Viral inactivated platelet extract, use and preparation thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a viral-safe platelet extract, to its preparation and use. The extract comprises a mixture of biologically active platelet derived factors. 
     Advantageously, the extract comprises a balanced proportion of the factors and is non-clottable.

This application is a Non-Provisional that claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/425,474, filed Dec. 21, 2010, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. Thepresent application also claims benefit of Israeli Patent ApplicationNumber IL210162, filed Dec. 21, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to viral-inactivated platelet extract derived frommultiple donors; to its preparation and use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Platelets are small, irregularly-shaped a-nuclear cells that play afundamental role in hemostasis and healing. Platelets contain a completearray of pre-synthesized proteins, among which are signaling proteins,cytoskeletal proteins, membrane proteins and regulatory proteins. Theyare involved in key stages of tissue regeneration and healing processesat the site of injury, mainly due to the content of platelet granulescomprising a multitude of bioactive molecules including growth factors(GFs), cytokines and chemokines. Platelet GFs such as platelet-derivedgrowth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor (TGF), basic fibroblastgrowth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) andothers are key players in all the following phases of the wound healingcascade: inflammatory, proliferative and remodeling phase.

Studies have shown that platelet derived GFs stimulate angiogenesis,mitogenesis, cell proliferation, neutrophils and macrophages, collagensynthesis, wound contraction, extracellular matrix synthesis,epithelialization and chemotaxis.

Platelets are routinely used by transfusion e.g. to improve hemostasis.Recently, platelets are increasingly used in the form of Platelet RichPlasma (PRP), also referred to as PRP gel, platelet gel, PRP-clot etc.Typically, PRP is an ex vivo preparation consisting of autologousplatelets concentrated in a limited volume of plasma (Lacci K M, DardikA. Platelet-rich plasma: support for its use in wound healing. Yale JBiol Med. 2010 March; 83(1):1-9).

For topical application, PRP is usually activated by the addition ofthrombin and/or CaCl₂ resulting in the formation of fibrin gel by theinteraction between thrombin (endogenous or exogenous) and fibrinogen.Upon activation, the platelets undergo active degranulation and releasevarious mediators including GFs (Lacci K M, Dardik A, 2010). The use ofPRP for injection currently comprises a small but rapidly growingsegment of the market. The rationale for using PRP in soft and hardtissue augmentation is its potential to enhance tissue regeneration innon-healing injuries, accelerate wound maturity, vascularization andepithelialization, decrease scar formation, and reduce post operativecomplications and morbidity (Lacci K M, Dardik A, 2010).

Studies using activated PRP together with various cell types have shownthat factors e.g. growth factors released from PRP can induce cellproliferation [(e.g. Kanno et al. Platelet-rich plasma enhances humanosteoblast-like cell proliferation and differentiation. J OralMaxillofac Surg. 2005 March; 63(3):362-9; Bertrand-Duchesne et al.Epidermal growth factor released from platelet-rich plasma promotesendothelial cell proliferation in vitro. J Periodontal Res. 2010February; 45(1):87-93; Kakudo et al. Proliferation-promoting effect ofplatelet-rich plasma on human adipose-derived stem cells and humandermal fibroblasts. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2008 November; 122(5):1352-60),modulate the angiogenic capability of human endothelial cells (Sulpiceet al. Cross-talk between the VEGF-A and HGF signalling pathways inendothelial cells. Biol Cell. 2009 September; 101(9):525-39; Rughetti etal. Platelet gel-released supernatant modulates the angiogeniccapability of human endothelial cells. Blood Transfus. 2008 January;6(1):12-7), and induce osteo-inductive properties (Intini G. The use ofplatelet-rich plasma in bone reconstruction therapy. Biomaterials. 2009October; 30(28):4956-66)]. Moreover, activated PRP was found to supportin vitro cell growth and maintained viability of a number of targetcells including myelomas, hybridomas, hepatocytes, fibroblasts andepithelial cells, at a level comparable or superior to the levelsupported by fetal bovine serum (Johansson et al. Platelet lysate: areplacement for fetal bovine serum in animal cell culture?Cytotechnology. 2003 July; 42(2):67-74).

PRP and released growth factors are currently used in various surgicaltissue regeneration procedures, predominantly in orthopedic and dentalsurgery (Nurden et al. Platelets and wound healing. Front Biosci. 2008May 1; 13:3532-48). In orthopedic surgery PRP is used mainly for kneearthroplasty, lumbar spinal fusion, and in intervertebral discdegeneration (reviewed in Nurden et al, 2008). Dentistry andmaxillofacial surgery PRP applications include mainly consolidation oftitanium implants, maxillary sinus augmentation and bone remodeling(reviewed in Nurden et al, 2008). PRP is also increasingly used fortendon and ligament repair, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery,chronic skin wound healing, ophthalmology, facial nerve regeneration, aswell as in cardiac and bariatric surgery (reviewed in Nurden et al,2008).

However, a major disadvantage of the current use of autologous PRP andreleased factors resides in the lack of standardization. Of note,different manual, semi-automated and fully-automated systems forpreparation of PRP are commercially available that differ in parameterssuch as preparation time, platelet yield and collection efficiency(Mazzucco et al. Not every PRP-gel is born equal. Evaluation of growthfactor availability for tissues through four PRP-gel preparations:Fibrinet, RegenPRP-Kit, Plateltex and one manual procedure. Vox Sang.2009 August; 97(2):110-8).

Another important variable is the technique used for platelet activation[autologous, heterologous or recombinant throtnbin, calcium chloride orbatroxobin (Rozman P, Bolta Z. Use of platelet growth factors intreating wounds and soft-tissue injuries. Acta Dermatovenerol AlpPanonica Adriat. 2007 December; 16(4):156-65)], which can affect theefficiency of granule release and the amount of secreted GFs (Rozman P,Bolta Z, 2007). Moreover, since platelets are very sensitive tomechanical stress and changes in the surrounding environment, they maybe activated and GFs may be released during processing, prior to theintended activation step (Mazzucco et al, 2009). This uncontrolledactivation may further increase the variability in the composition ofthe final product when using different PRP preparation systems.Additionally, a major inherent weakness of autologous PRP preparation isthat the platelets GFs content varies among individuals, and thereforemay lead to sub-optimal results. Finally, the financial burden ofdedicated machinery, disposable PRP processing kits, and the need fortrained personnel, should be taken into consideration when working withautologous PRP.

A recent publication (Su et al. “A virally inactivated functional growthfactor preparation from human platelet concentrates”. Vox Sang. 2009August; 97(2):119-128) discloses the preparation of a clottablefunctional growth factor extract derived from pooled aphaeresis plateletdonations. However, the disclosed clottable preparation has thedisadvantage that it includes only one viral inactivation step, i.e.solvent detergent (S/D) viral inactivation which is effectiveparticularly against enveloped viruses, but not against non-envelopedviruses. The publication indicates the possibility of applyingnanofiltration as a second viral inactivation step. This preparationalso contains plasma and leukocyte protein impurities. The step of S/Dremoval by hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) largely reducesthe PDGF in the preparation. Furthermore, the clotability potential ofthe preparation may limit its use to local application or prevent itssystemic use.

Burnouf et al. (“A novel virally inactivated human platelet lysatepreparation rich in TGF-beta, EGF and IGF, and depleted of PDGF andVEGF”. Biotechnol Appl Biochem. 2010 Aug. 6; 56(4):151-60) discloses anS/D treated platelet lysate with a standardized content of TGF-beta, EGFand IGF and depleted of PDGF and VEGF. The publication discloses amethod for preparation of this lysate evading removal of SD byhydrophobic interaction chromatography.

There is a need of a viral-safe platelet extract preparation obtainedfrom multiple donors comprising a mixture of proteins having growthfactor and/or trophic factor activity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Platelets contain a complete array of factors involved in key stages oftissue regeneration and healing processes. Currently, whole autologousactivated platelets (derived from the patient) are used for facilitatingwound healing. However, there are multiple disadvantages of using wholeautologous platelets, inter alia, the lack of standardization; thefactors needed for healing may be scarce in the patient's own platelets;the special equipment needed; the procedure is time consuming andrequires additional steps which are carried out on the patient itself;and the requirement of medically trained personnel. These problems canbe solved e.g. by using a platelet extract prepared from multipledonors. However, human blood-derived products may carry a risk oftransmitting infectious agents such as viruses. Effective reduction ofviral transmission risk can be achieved by including at least twoorthogonal viral inactivation steps. Yet, additional steps in themanufacture of a platelet extract may compromise the recovery andactivity of the factors contained therein.

The invention solves a long felt need for a viral safe (at least doubleviral inactivated) platelet protein extract obtained from multipledonors comprising a mixture of proteins having growth factor and/ortrophic factor activity.

The invention relates to an active and viral-safe platelet extractderived from multiple donors; to its preparation and use.

The viral-safe platelet extract comprises a mixture of active plateletcell growth factors and/or trophic factors.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for preparing aviral-safe platelet extract, the method comprising at least twoorthogonal viral inactivation treatments e.g. solvent detergent (S/D)viral inactivation treatment and heat inactivation. The methodcomprising the following steps:

providing a platelet-enriched fraction from multiple donors e.g. awashed and/or leukocyte-reduced platelet fraction from aphaeresis pooledfrom multiple donors;

preparing a platelet lysate;

carrying out a solvent detergent (S/D) viral inactivation treatment;

removing the S/D by hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC),wherein the HIC comprises the steps of: loading the lysate to HIC, andcollecting a material eluted under non isocratic conditions; and

conducting a second orthogonal viral inactivation treatment.

In one embodiment of the invention, preparing the platelet lysate iscarried out during the S/D viral inactivation treatment.

In a further embodiment of the invention, during the S/D viralinactivation treatment a sub step of aggregate reduction is carried oute.g. by filtration.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the HIC comprises the steps of:loading the lysate to HIC; washing HIC with an isocratic solution;collecting the unbound material; washing HIC with a non isocraticsolution; and collecting the eluted material.

Yet, in a further embodiment of the invention, the isocratic solutionconsists of acetate glycine buffer and human serum albumin; and whereinthe non isocratic solution comprises an organic solvent and/or amolecule capable of binding platelet derived factors.

Yet, in a further embodiment of the invention, the lysate is contactedwith a molecule capable of binding platelet-derived factors, e.g.heparin, dextran sulphate and combination thereof, prior to S/D removal.

Yet, in a further embodiment of the invention, the extract islyophilized.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a viral-safe plateletextract, obtainable according to the method of the invention.

The invention provides a viral-safe platelet extract derived frommultiple donors comprising a mixture of biologically active plateletcell growth factors and/or trophic factors.

In one embodiment of the invention the extract comprises PDGF-AB, VEGFand TGFb 1, wherein the ratio for PDGF-AB:TGF-b1 is at least 0.2; and/orthe ratio for PDGF-AB:VEGF is at least 45.

In one embodiment of the invention, the extract is enriched with PDGF-ABand/or bFGF.

In one embodiment of the invention, the extract is non-clottable.

In one embodiment of the invention, the extract has a low aggregatecontent.

In one embodiment of the invention, the extract is in solid form.

In one embodiment of the invention, the extract is provided with adelivery agent made of natural and/or synthetic material selected fromthe group consisting of polymers, hydrogels, polyvinyl alcohol,polyethylene glycol, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulphate, gelatin,alginate, collagen matrices, carboxymethylcellulose, dextran,poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate), agar, oxidize regenerated cellulose,self assembled peptides, poly(glycolic) acid, poly(lactic) acid, fibrinand combinations thereof.

In another aspect, the invention relates to the use of the extract intissue healing; organ reconstruction; tissue regeneration and/ortreating inflammation.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of tissue healing;organ reconstruction and/or tissue regeneration comprising administeringto a subject in need a therapeutically effective amount of an extractaccording to the invention.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of treatinginflammation in a subject in need comprising administering to a subjectin need a therapeutically effective amount of an extract according tothe invention.

In one embodiment of the invention, the extract is administered with adelivery agent.

The invention provides a method for removing solvent-detergent (S/D)from a biological liquid mixture by hydrophobic interactionchromatography (HIC), comprising the steps of:

providing the biological liquid mixture; and

loading the mixture to HIC, collecting the unbound material and amaterial eluted under non isocratic conditions.

The invention also provides a method for removing solvent-detergent(S/D) from a biological liquid preparation by HIC, comprising the stepsof:

providing the preparation;

loading the preparation to HIC; and

collecting a material eluted under non isocratic conditions.

In one embodiment of the invention, the biological preparation is aplatelet derived preparation.

In one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of:loading the preparation to HIC; washing HIC with an isocratic solution;collecting the unbound material; washing HIC with a non isocraticsolution; and collecting the eluted material.

In one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises an isocraticsolution consisting of acetate glycine buffer and human serum albumin;and a non isocratic solution comprising an organic solvent and/or amolecule capable of binding platelet derived factors.

In another aspect, the invention provides a viral-safe preparation ormixture, obtainable according to the method of the invention.

Yet in another aspect, the invention provides a kit comprising arecipient containing an extract according to the invention, optionallycomprising a delivery agent.

In one embodiment, the delivery agent is made of natural and/orsynthetic material selected from the group consisting of polymers,hydrogels, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, hyaluronic acid,chondroitin sulphate, gelatin, alginate, collagen matrices,carboxymethylcellulose, dextran, poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate), agar,oxidize regenerated cellulose, self assembled peptides, poly(glycolic)acid, poly(lactic) acid, fibrin and combinations thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows SDS-PAGE protein profile characterization of differentplatelet extract preparations. Molecular weight markers [Bio-Rad161-0374 (lane 1)]; Human serum albumin [Plasbumin 25. (lane 2)] 8 μg;Washed platelets from whole blood (lane 3) 1 μg; WAP (lane 4) 8 μg; WAPafter S/D treatment (lane 5) 14 μg; WAP after S/D treatment and SDremoval by SDR HyperD chromatography resin purification (lane 6) 10 μg.

FIG. 2 shows proliferation of 3T3 cells treated with “pooled WAP”, “LYOI” or untreated (0). The experiments were carried out in triplicates.Cells grown in starvation medium (marked as “0”) were used as thecontrol; ***—p<0.001 (t-test analysis, comparing to “0”).

FIG. 3 shows a representative light microscopy image (at magnificationof ×200) of 3T3-Swiss albino cell morphology of (A) Untreated controlcells (cells grown in starvation medium); or (B) Cells treated with LYOI.

FIG. 4 shows a representative light microscopy image (at magnificationof ×200) of HUVEC morphology upon addition of LYO I (B), 2 IU/mlthrombin (C); LYO I+2 IU/ml thrombin (D); BAC component (E); or LYOI+BAC component (F). (A) Untreated control cells.

FIG. 5 shows the proliferative effect of LYO II (▴) or pooled WAP II (▪)on 3T3-Swiss albino fibroblast cells. The experiment was carried out intriplicates.

FIG. 6 shows HUVEC proliferation following induction with LYO II,thrombin (T, 1 IU/ml final concentration in the well) and 1 IU/mlthrombin+LYO II. Asterisk denotes significantly different resultscompared to the related treatment without LYO II as evaluated by t-testanalysis (p values are represented).

FIG. 7 shows vessel-like structures acquired by HUVEC seeded on BasementMembrane Extract (BME) coated wells (positive control). The picture wastaken at ×100 magnification using fluorescence filter for 530 nm.

FIG. 8 shows vessel-like structures acquired by HUVEC followingtreatment with LYO II (B). (A) Control cells. The pictures were taken at×200 magnification using fluorescence filter for 530 nm.

FIG. 9A-9F show the morphological appearance of HUVEC seeded onfibrinogen (A-C) or fibrin coated (D-F) cells and treated with LYO II(B,E) or pooled WAP II (C,F) or untreated (A,D). The pictures were takenat 100-fold magnification using fluorescence filter for 530 nm.

FIG. 10 shows the proliferative effect of LYO III or pooled WAP III on3T3-Swiss albino fibroblasts. MasterMix (MM) was used as positivecontrol. Normalization was done to the PDGF-AB concentration asevaluated by specific ELISA.

FIG. 11 shows morphological appearance of HUVEC treated with thrombin(B; 1 IU/ml final concentration), fibrinogen (C, 11.3 mg/ml totalprotein), LYO III (D), fibrin (thrombin and fibrinogen) (E), and fibrinand LYO III (F). A—Control cells without treatment. The pictures weretaken at 100-fold magnification using fluorescence filter for 530 nm.

FIG. 12 shows proliferation level of 3T3-Swiss albino fibroblast cellsfollowing different treatments. MasterMix (MM; ♦) was used as reference.Normalization was done to the PDGF-AB concentration as evaluated byspecific ELISA. All the tests were done in triplicates.

FIG. 13 shows 3T3-Swiss albino morphological appearance followinginduction by LYO IV (B), pooled WAP IV (C), and MasterMix (MM; D). (A)Untreated cells. The pictures were taken at 200-fold magnification usingphase-contrast microscope.

FIG. 14A-O show representative phase-contrast images (×100magnification) of the in-vitro wound scratch assay performed with3T3-Swiss albino fibroblasts. The cells were plated on differentsurfaces—uncoated (A,D,G,J,M), collagen (B,E,H,K,N)— or fibrinogen(C,F,I,L,O)—coated wells and wounded with a p 200 pipette tip. Thewounds were captured at time point “0” (A,B,C) and 24 hours (D-O) aftertreatment with LYO IV (G,H,I), pooled WAP IV (J,K,L), or PRP-R (M,N,O).

FIG. 15 shows a quantitative evaluation of the wound closure as apercentage left 24 hours after initiation of the treatment in thedifferent treatment groups. The cells were plated on different surfaces(uncoated, collagen or fibrinogen coated wells) and treated with LYO IV,pooled WAP IV, or PRP-R after scratching the monolayer with a p 200pipette tip. The % of wound left was calculated as a ratio of thedistance left after 24 h to the starting distance in each location.Results are presented as mean of 6 replicates±S.D. T-test analysis wasperformed, statistical significance was determined as p<0.05. *comparedwith wells without treatment (0) per each surface); # compared to therelated treatment on the uncoated surfaces.

FIG. 16 shows the morphological appearance of HUVEC seeded on BME coatedwells and treated with LYO IV (B) or pooled WAP IV (C). (A) UntreatedHUVEC seeded on BME coating. The pictures were taken at 60-foldmagnification using fluorescence filter for 530 nm.

FIG. 17 shows the proliferative effect of LYO V or pooled WAP V on3T3-Swiss albino fibroblasts. Recombinant human PDGF-AB was used as acontrol.

FIG. 18 shows the proliferative effect of LYO VI or pooled WAP VI on3T3-Swiss albino fibroblasts. Pooled PRP releasate was used as acontrol.

FIG. 19 shows the proliferative effect of LYO VI and pooled WAP VII; orLYO VII and pooled WAP VII on 3T3-Swiss albino fibroblasts.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an active and viral-safe (at least double viralinactivated) platelet extract derived from multiple donors; to itspreparation and use. The viral-safe platelet extract comprises a mixtureof biologically active platelet cell growth factors and/or trophicfactors.

It was found according to the present invention that washedleukocyte-reduced aphaeresis platelets (WAP) contain very small amountsof albumin and, possibly, small amounts of other plasma impuritiesrelative to washed platelets obtained from whole blood donation. It wasalso found that WAP subjected to S/D treatment (lysis and viralinactivation), S/D removal, lyophilization and reconstitution (e.g. LYOI extract) was biologically active and capable of inducing proliferationand/or changes in morphology e.g. vessel-like structure formation(associated with angiogenesis) or formation of spindle-like structures(an attribute of increased motility) in cell lines e.g. Human UmbilicalVein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) or 3T3 fibroblasts cells. It was observedthat the activity of the extract could be increased by addition ofthrombin, biologically active component (BAC; a fibrinogen component asin EVICEL™ fibrin sealant, Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.) orthrombin+BAC (Fibrin).

Human blood-derived products may carry a risk of transmitting infectiousagents such as viruses. Several measures are usually taken in order tominimize the risk of viral and/or unknown pathogens transmissionincluding routine testing of donated samples for the presence of certainviruses, and viral inactivation/removal steps during the manufactureprocess. Effective reduction of viral transmission risk can be achievedby including at least two orthogonal viral inactivation steps that donot alter the beneficial properties of the product. Lipid-envelopedviruses such as HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and West Nile Virus arequickly and efficiently inactivated by the S/D treatment which destroysthe lipid membrane of the viruses.

Next, the extract was subjected to a second viral inactivation treatmente.g. a heat treatment (pasteurization) step or nanofiltration. It wasfound according to the invention that the extract could not easily passthrough a nanofiltration system.

Surprisingly, it was found according to the invention that a heattreatment (pasteurization) viral inactivation step is feasible andyields a biologically active extract (e.g. LYO II) as tested by a cellproliferation assay and induction of morphological changes (e.g.induction of angiogenesis or induction of spindle like shapes) assay. Itwas found that thrombin, fibrinogen or fibrin addition pronounced theextract activity (fibrinogen or fibrin addition by promoting tubularstructure formation and thrombin by increasing proliferation).

In one embodiment of the invention, for heat treatment, the S/D treatedmaterial is subjected to a step of stabilization. Sucrose and glycinecan be added into the solution to serve as stabilizers during thepasteurization step. The solution can then be pasteurized e.g. by heattreatment at 60±0.5° C. for 9-10.5 hours with constant mixing. Then thesolution can be diluted e.g. with acetate-glycine buffer and thestabilizers can be removed from the solution e.g. by diafiltrationagainst acetate-glycine buffer. If aggregated material is present, itcan be removed by filtration through one or more sequential filtrationse.g. using 20, 5 and 1.2 μm filters, followed by 0.45 μm filter. Sterilefiltrations can be carried out under aseptic conditions using a 0.2 μmfilter. The solution can be lyophilized in autoclaved vials and sealedwith autoclaved rubber stoppers under nitrogen atmosphere and in partialvacuum (0.6 Bar).

It was found according to the invention that the doubleviral-inactivated extract could be concentrated (e.g. as in LYO III)e.g. four-fold or 32-fold compared to the concentration of the startingmaterial. Concentration can be achieved e.g. by diafiltration of thesolution and/or reconstitution of the lyophilized extract in a lowervolume compared to the volume of the extract prior to lyophylization.

If aggregated material is present, it can be removed by sequentialfiltration as above. It was found that the concentrated extract (e.g.LYO III) comprises very low amounts of plasma proteins. It was foundthat the concentrated extracts (e.g. LYO VI and LYO VII) werenon-clottable. The extracts exhibited marginal levels or completeabsence of clotting proteins. The concentrated extract is depleted ofphysiologically active fibrinogen since the levels of physiologicallyactive fibrinogen are undetectable by a sensitive method currently usedin the art. The extracts lacked pro-coagulant activity as assessed bythe non-activated partial thromboplastin time measurement test (NAPTT).The NAPTT can be carried out essentially as described in the EuropeanPharmacopoeia 7.0; 2.6.22: Activated coagulation factors monograph(January 2008:20622); in European Pharmacopoeia Strasburg (France),Council of Europe, 2009. The absence of coagulation factors was alsodetermined by the Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) test. Itwas shown by this test that the platelet extract according to theinvention is deficient in one or more of the coagulation factors XII,XI, IX, VIII, X, V, II, and I, rendering the extract non-clottable.

It was found according to the invention that increasing theconcentrations of the extract affected the proliferation level of3T3-Swiss albino mouse fibroblast cells with the effect of theconcentrated extract being more pronounced than a lysate of the startingmaterial while normalized to the amounts of PDGF-AB present in thesamples. Notably, the effect of the concentrated extracts was morepronounced than the positive control (MasterMix, a custom mixture ofrecombinant human growth factors prepared with TGF-β1 200 ng/ml, b-FGF0.5 ng/ml, VEGF 5 ng/ml and PDGF-AB 300 ng/ml). It was also found thataddition of the concentrated extract to Human Umbilical Vein EndothelialCells (HUVEC) monolayer promoted tubulogenesis. A synergistic effect intubulogenesis of HUVEC monolayer was shown by the addition of theconcentrated extract in combination with fibrin sealant.

For optimal S/D viral inactivation a sub step of aggregate removal canbe added during the S/D treatment (e.g. as carried out in LYO IV).Aggregate removal can be carried out e.g. by centrifugation; filtration;preparative size exclusion chromatography (SEC); ultrafiltration e.g.using 100 KD polyethersulfone (PES) membrane, 100 KD polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) membrane, 300 KD PES membranes, polypropylene membranes,cellulose acetate membranes and/or by any other method known in the art.

Optionally, an additional step of aggregate removal by addition ofcalcium chloride, or other calcium salts, and clarification filtrationis included. E.g. calcium chloride at a final concentration of 40 mM canbe added (to facilitate the precipitation of aggregates) followed byclarification filtration e.g. using 20, 5, 1.2 and 0.45 μm filters. Inone embodiment, this step is added after the S/D treatment.

It was found according to the invention that these additional steps ofaggregate removal are feasible and yield a biologically active extract.A platelet extract having a low aggregate content can be advantageouslyused for intravenous administration. Also, a platelet extract having alow aggregate content can be used together with a component comprising arelatively high concentration of calcium.

It was found in uncoated cell culture wells, and in collagen orfibrinogen coated wells containing fibroblast, that treatment of thecells with extracts which were subjected to aggregate removal, promotedfibroblasts motility and closure of wound (in scratch assay) in asimilar manner as the lysate of the starting material and as PRP-R[(PRP-releasate, activated with calcium and thrombin (from EVICEL™)].PRP-R has been reported to be beneficial in wound healing in in-vivosettings (Lacci K M, Dardik A, 2010).

In addition, it was found according to the invention that extractssubjected to aggregate removal induced in HUVEC strong morphologicalchanges which are associated with angiogenesis.

It was found according to the invention that certain platelet factorscan be recovered during the S/D removal step by adding at least oneelution step in the HIC column used for the S/D removal and bycollecting also the eluted material. One such factor is PDGF-AB. It wasfound that by washing HIC with a non isocratic solution, in accordanceto the invention, at least 3-fold recovery or enrichment of PDGF-AB canbe obtained (as in LYO V, VI, and VII). The concentration of PDGF-AB wasmeasured in the final lyophilized material following reconstitution with4 ml double distilled water (DDW). The concentration of PDGF-AB wasfound to be 4,578 pg/ml in LYO VI, 15,028 pg/ml in LYO V, and 194,353pg/ml in LYO VII which corresponds to about 7×10⁻⁷ pg in LYO VI,2.26×10⁻⁶ pg in LYO V, and 3.12×10⁻⁵ pg in LYO VII PDGF-AB per plateletused as the starting material. Notably, the effect of the extractenriched with PDGF-AB on proliferation of cells was more pronounced thanrecombinant PDGF-AB alone, pointing to the fact that other platelets'extracted components may synergistically enhance fibroblastsproliferation. Another factor enriched/increased using the method of theinvention is bFGF (also named FGF-2 or β-FGF). It was also found that bywashing HIC with a non isocratic solution, in accordance to theinvention, at least 1.8 fold recovery or enrichment of bFGF can beobtained (as in LYO VI). The concentration of bFGF was found to be36-127 pg/ml which corresponds to about 5.4×10⁻⁹−1.95×10⁻⁸ pg bFGF perplatelet used as the starting material.

These findings paved the way to prepare an extract according to theinvention. The extract of the invention comprises one or more of thefollowing features: comprises proteins having growth and/or trophicfactors e.g. TGF-b1, b-FGF, VEGF, and PDGF-AB with a more balancedcomposition as compared to other platelet factor mixtures known in theart; is double viral inactivated e.g. S/D treated and pasteurized; hasreduced aggregate content; comprises a proportion of factors that issimilar to the physiological proportion of the same factors; comprises aphysiological balanced proportion between TGF-b1, VEGF, and PDGF-AB; andexhibits reduced plasma impurities (e.g. reduced IgG and fibrinogenlevels).

The term “physiologically balanced proportion” refers, for example, to aproportion between PDGF-AB:TGF-b1 and/or between PDGF-AB:VEGF that issimilar to the proportion of these factors in a physiologicalcomposition of platelets, concentrated platelets, pooled platelets,platelets leukocyte reduced, pooled platelets leukocyte reduced, washedplatelets, washed aphaeresis platelets leukocyte-reduced (WAP)preparation, platelet extract, Platelet Rich Plasma releasate (PRP-R),serum, and/or platelet releasate. “Serum” typically refers to bloodplasma without fibrinogen or other clotting factors that containgrowth/trophic factors released by activated platelets. In the case ofserum, the physiological ratio can be calculated according togrowth/trophic factor values present in the serum (according to packageinserts of commercial ELISA kits). In such an example, the physiologicalratio between PDGF-AB:TGF-b1 and PDGF-AB:VEGF was found to be 0.5 and90.9, respectively.

In one embodiment, the physiological ratio between PDGF-AB:TGF-b1 in WAP(starting material) is at least 0.2 or in the range of about 0.2 toabout 0.5, such as about 0.2, 0.3, 0.36, 0.4, 0.44 and 0.47.

In another embodiment, the physiological ratio between PDGF-AB:VEGF inWAP (starting material) is at least 45 or in the range of about 45 toabout 103, such as about 45, 64, 73, 76, and 103.

In one embodiment of the invention, the extract according to theinvention comprises a ratio for PDGF-AB:TGF-b1 that is at least 0.2;and/or for PDGF-AB:VEGF that is at least 45.

In one embodiment of the invention, the extract according to theinvention comprises a ratio for PDGF-AB:TGF-b1 that is at least about0.56; and/or for PDGF-AB:VEGF that is at least about 74 (as in LYO VII).

The extract according to the invention has one or more of the followingadvantages: is standardized and allows robust (consistent) biologicalperformance; exhibits biological activity e.g. induction ofproliferation and/or morphological changes in cells; exhibits increasedactivity with low concentrations of PDGF-AB as compared to theconcentration of recombinant PDGF-AB alone therefore the likelihood oftransformational changes in non proliferative tissue is decreased; hasoptimal viral safety; has improved immunological safety e.g. since itcomprises low levels of plasma impurities relative to an extractprepared from platelet-enriched fractions which were not subjected to astep of plasma proteins removal e.g. a washing step; and is nonclottable.

The term “viral-safe platelet extract” refers to an extract which wassubjected to at least two orthogonal viral inactivation treatments.

“At least two orthogonal viral inactivation treatments” involvescarrying out at least two different and independent treatments forinactivating viruses. A combination of two or more of the following nonlimiting treatment examples can be used: pasteurization,Solvent/Detergent (S/D), nanofiltration, Low pH treatment, UVirradiation and Sodium thiocyanate treatment.

The term “inactivating viruses or viral inactivation” refers to asituation wherein viruses are maintained in the solution but arerendered non-viable e.g. by dissolving their lipid coat; and/or to thesituation wherein viruses are physically removed from the solution e.g.by size exclusion techniques.

The term “platelet extract” refers to a mixture comprisingplatelet-derived factors. Typically, extracts are cell free.

The term “lysate” refers to a solution produced when cells are destroyedby disrupting their cell membranes.

The term “active platelet extract” refers to a platelet extract whichcomprises biologically active substances such as growth factors and/ortrophic factors and exhibits biological activity including, but notlimited to, induction of cell proliferation cell motility, cell-cellinteractions, and/or cellular morphological changes.

The term “platelet extract derived from multiple donors” refers to aplatelet extract which is prepared from at least two individuals. Theindividuals can be human or other mammalians.

The term “growth factor” typically refers to an agent that promotescellular growth, proliferation and/or differentiation. Examples ofgrowth factors include, but are not limited to, transforming growthfactor (TGF) e.g. TGF-b1, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) e.g. bFGF,vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), platelet-derived growthfactor (PDGF) e.g. PDGF-AB, and the like.

The term “trophic factors” typically refers to an agent that stimulatesdifferentiation and/or survival of cells. Examples of trophic factorinclude, but are not limited to, adhesion molecules, bone morphogeneticproteins, cytokines, eph receptor tyrosine kinase, epidermal growthfactors, fibroblast growth factors (FGF), GDNF, heparin-binding growthfactors, insulin-like growth factors, neurotrophins, semaphorins,transforming growth factors (TGF) β, tyrosine kinase receptor ligands,and the like.

A platelet factor may have growth activity and trophic activity.

The term “aggregates” refers to a chunk of material which containssolids such as protein aggregates. Protein aggregation can beencountered during manufacture of biotherapeutics (Protein aggregationand bioprocessing. Cromwell M E, Hilario E, Jacobson F. AAPS J. 2006Sep. 15; 8(3):E572-9. Review). Aggregates of proteins may be in the formof soluble/insoluble, covalent/noncovalent, reversible/irreversible,and/or native/denatured proteins. If desired, e.g. for intravenousadministration, aggregates may be removed from the extract by differenttechniques known in the art e.g. by centrifugation; filtration;preparative size exclusion chromatography (SEC); ultrafiltration e.g.using 100 KD polyethersulfone (PES) membrane, 100 KD polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) membrane, 300 KD PES membranes, polypropylene membranes,cellulose acetate membranes and/or by any other method known in the art.

Advantageously, in one embodiment of the invention the extract exhibitslow aggregate content and can be used for intravenous administration. Inone embodiment of the invention, the aggregate level (turbidity) can becalculated according to the following equation:

${\frac{{OD}\; 320\mspace{14mu}{platelets}\mspace{14mu}{extract}}{{mg}\mspace{14mu}{{protein}/{ml}}} - \frac{{OD}\; 320\mspace{14mu}{human}\mspace{14mu}{serum}\mspace{14mu}{albumin}}{{mg}\mspace{14mu}{{protein}/{ml}}}} = {{OD}\; 320\mspace{14mu}{platelet}\mspace{14mu}{extract}\mspace{14mu}{per}\mspace{14mu}{mg}\mspace{14mu}{protein}}$

A level in an extract which is lower than ≦0.03 OD₃₂₀ per mg proteinmeasured as above can be considered as an extract with low aggregatecontent. In one embodiment of the invention, the aggregate content is inthe range of from about 0.01 (limit of detection) to equal to 0.03 OD₃₂₀per mg protein.

The term “plasma impurities” refers, for example, to thrombin;fibrinogen; fibronectin; von Willebrand factor; factor II; factor VII;factor VIII; factor IX; factor X; factor XI and IgG.

Low levels of plasma impurities refers, for example, to undetectablelevels of physiological active thrombin (by clotting time); undetectablelevels of physiological active fibrinogen (by clotting time); less thanabout 0.13 or less than about 0.034 mg/ml fibrinogen (by ELISA); lessthan about 0.004 or 0.001 mg/ml fibronectin; undetectable levels ofphysiological active von Willebrand factor; less than about 0.0013 or0.0014 IU/ml factor II; less than about 0.008 or 0.009 IU/ml factor VII;undetectable levels of physiological active factor VIII; undetectablelevels of physiological active factor IX; less than about 0.003 IU/mlfactor X; undetectable levels of physiological active factor XI andfactor II; and less than about 0.076 or 0.011 mg/ml IgG. In oneembodiment of the invention, fibrinogen concentration (by ELISA) is inthe range of 0.01 to 0.1 mg/ml; fibronectin concentration is in therange of 0.002 to 0.02 mg/ml; factor VII concentration is in the rangeof 0.001 to 0.01 IU/ml; factor X concentration is in the range of 0.001to 0.01 IU/ml; and IgG concentration is in the range of 0.01 to 0.1mg/ml. An extract exhibiting undetectable levels of clotting factorsand/or protein plasma impurities is considered to be depleted of thesefactors/proteins.

“Solvent detergent (S/D) viral inactivation treatment” typically refersto a process that inactivates enveloped or lipid-coated viruses bydestroying their lipid envelope. The treatment can be carried out by theaddition of detergents (such as Triton X-45, Triton X-100 or Tween 80)and solvents [such as tri(n-butyl) phosphate (TnBP), di- ortrialkylphosphates]. The solvent-detergent combination used todeactivate lipid coated viruses may be any solvent-detergent combinationknown in the art such as TnBP and Triton X-100; Tween 80 and Sodiumcholate and other combinations.

The concentration of the solvent(s) detergent(s) used can be thosecommonly used in the art, for example as carried out in U.S. Pat. No.5,094,960A, U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,545A. In one embodiment of theinvention, a combination of >0.1% TnBP and >0.1% Triton X-100 is used.In another embodiment of the invention a combination of 1% Triton X-100and 0.3% TnBP is used. Typically, the conditions under which thesolvent-detergent inactivates the viruses consist of 10-100 mg/ml ofsolvent detergent at a pH level ranging from 5-8, and a temperatureranging from 2-37° C. for 30 minutes to 24 hours. However, other solventdetergent combinations and suitable conditions will be apparent to anyperson versed in the art.

“Pasteurization” typically refers to a process by which heat destroysboth lipid-enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. “Pasteurization” isinterchangeable with the term “heat inactivation”. The heat inactivationcan be carried out at a temperature in the range of 59.5 to 60.5° C. fora period of 9 to 10.5 hours e.g. the inactivation can be carried out at60° C. for 10 hours. Stabilizers such as sucrose and glycine can beadded into the platelet lysate during the pasteurization step.

“Nanofiltration” typically refers to a process by which lipid-envelopedand non-enveloped viruses are excluded from the sample by usingnanometer-scale filters such as Planova™ 20N, 35N and 75N;Viresolve/70™, Viresolve/180™. The filters can have a pore size of lessthan 70 nm, preferably between 15 and 50 nm. However, any membranehaving a pore size sufficient to reduce or eliminate viruses from thesample can be employed in nanofiltration. Viruses removed bynanofiltration can be enveloped [e.g. HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitisC virus, West Nile Virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus(EBV), herpes simplex virus], and non enveloped (e.g. hepatitis A virus,paravirus B19, Polio virus).

Low pH treatment is typically effective against enveloped viruses. Inone embodiment of the invention, the platelet lysate is subjected to alow pH, typically to a pH of 4, and lasts anywhere between 6 hours and21 days. “Low pH treatment” is interchangeable with the term “acidic pHinactivation”.

The term “mixture of active platelet cell growth factors and/or trophicfactors” refers to a composition comprising at least 4 differentplatelet derived factors e.g. growth and/or trophic factors. In oneembodiment of the invention the factors are TGF-b1, b-FGF, VEGF, andPDGF-AB.

Typically, the extract of the invention is non clottable and exhibitslow levels of plasma impurities e.g. low IgG and/or low fibrinogenlevels. Such as less than 3 mg/ml IgG and less than 0.98 mg/mlfibrinogen, such as e.g. equal or less than about 0.076 mg/ml IgG andequal or less than about 0.034 mg/ml fibrinogen.

The term “non clottable” refers to a platelet extract which is notcapable of generating a clot solely upon mixing of the extract with anactivating agent, such as thrombin. “An activating agent” refers to anagent that is capable of forming fibrin from fibrinogen such as thrombinand/or a solution obtainable from snake venom.

The invention provides viral safe platelet extracts that compriseproteins having growth and/or trophic factors (e.g. TGF-b1, b-FGF, VEGF,and PDGF-AB) with more balanced composition as compared to otherplatelet factor mixtures.

A “more balanced composition” refers to a composition that is obtainedfrom multiple donors and comprises at least four different proteinshaving growth factor activity and/or trophic factor activity such asTGF-b1, b-FGF, VEGF, and PDGF-AB and in which one or more plateletfactors e.g. PDGF-AB and/or bFGF are enriched. An extract enriched withPDGF-AB may e.g. comprise at least 3 fold higher PDGF-AB amounts, e.g.about 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8 or more, than theextract subjected to S/D and S/D removal by HIC in the absence of a washwith a non isocratic solution. An extract enriched with PDGF alsorelates e.g. to an extract which comprises amounts/levels of PDGF-ABthat are similar to the amounts of PDGF-AB of the equivalent materialprior to the S/D treatment or after the S/D treatment and prior to S/Dremoval e.g. by HIC or comprises amounts of PDGF-AB similar to theamounts in the lysate of the staring material. PDGF-AB enrichment can beobtained by increasing the recovery of PDGF-AB in a purification and/orchromatography step. In one embodiment, the enrichment of PDGF-AB isobtained by increasing the recovery of PDGF-AB during the S/D removal inthe HIC step by adding a wash with a non isocratic solution. Thus, themethod according to the invention allows obtaining a platelet extractwith high yields of PDGF-AB.

An extract enriched with bFGF may e.g. comprise at least 1.8 fold higherbFGF amounts, e.g. about 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5,8 or more, than the same extract subjected to S/D and S/D removal byHIC, in the absence of a wash with a non isocratic solution. An extractenriched with bFGF also relates e.g. to an extract which comprisesamounts of bFGF that are similar to the amounts of bFGF of theequivalent material prior to the S/D treatment or after the S/Dtreatment and prior to S/D removal e.g. by HIC or comprises amounts ofbFGF similar to the amounts in the lysate of the staring material. bFGFenrichment can be obtained by increasing the recovery of bFGF in apurification and/or chromatography step. In one embodiment, theenrichment of bFGF is obtained by increasing the recovery of bFGF duringthe S/D removal in the HIC step by adding a wash with a non isocraticsolution. Thus, the method according to the invention allows obtaining aplatelet extract with high yields of bFGF.

The platelet extract according to the invention can be used for anytherapeutic purpose.

The extract of the invention is suitable e.g. for promoting healing ofinjured tissue in a subject. The platelet extract can be used as is forinjection into a target area or for intravenous administration; appliedonto/administered into bandages, foams, pads and matrices and/or can beused in combination with fibrin sealant for topical applications. Theextract can be released into/onto a desired location from differentdelivery agents such as bandages, pads, foams and matrices. The agentscan be made of natural and/or synthetic materials. Examples of suchmaterials include, but are not limited to, polymers, hydrogels,Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), hyaluronic acid,chondroitin sulphate, gelatin, alginate, collagen matrices,carboxymethylcellulose, dextran, poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate)[PHEMA], agar, oxidize regenerated cellulose (ORC), self assembledpeptides [SAPs], poly(glycolic) acid, poly(lactic) acid, fibrin andcombinations thereof.

It was found according to the invention that using the extract accordingto the invention in combination with fibrin sealant in the SubcutaneousImplantation Model in Rats [commonly used to assess tissue response,angiogenesis and overall healing in the implanted tissue-InternationalOrganization for Standartization (ISO) 10993-6, Biological Evaluation ofMedical Devices—Part 6: Tests for Local Effects After Implantation(2007)] resulted in more angiogenesis and better overall healing 7 dayspost-implantation as compared to using fibrin sealant alone or saline.The extract was used in two different doses and the following are theamounts of several growth factors actually administered: TGF-b1 5.27 or52.7; PDGF-AB 0.1 or 1.05; bFGF 0.0024 or 0.024; and VEGF 0.023 or 0.23,ng (administered with 200 μl fibrin sealant). It was shown that thebeneficial effect of the extract was dose dependent.

It was also found that the extract according to the invention had nodeleterious effect as microscopically determined by the presence of lownumbers of macrophages and lymphocytes in the implant site.

The term “subject”, as used herein, includes animals of mammalianorigin, including humans. In one embodiment, the subject is a patient.

The term “any therapeutic purpose” refers to any curative or preventivetreatment; for cosmetic use; and/or for any disease, disorder orcondition in a subject. Exemplary therapeutic purposes include, but arenot limited to, accelerating internal or external wound healing, i.e.,causing the wound to heal rapidly as compared to an untreated wound orto other known wound treatments; treating any injury or condition thatrequires stimulating angiogenesis, mitogenesis, cell proliferation,neutrophils and macrophages, collagen synthesis, migration, woundcontraction, extracellular matrix synthesis, epithelialization andchemotaxis; injury or condition that requires tissue generation,regeneration or reorganization, epithelialization, formation of newblood vessels, or angiogenesis; for decreasing scar formation; reducingpost operative complications and morbidity; for healing skin wounds e.g.cuts or ulcers.

The platelet extract can be used in various surgical fields such as, butnot limited to, orthopedic surgery (e.g. bone repair, articularcartilage repair, knee arthroplasty, lumbar spinal fusion, and inintervertebral disc degeneration); dental surgery; dentistry andmaxillofacial surgery (e.g. consolidation of titanium implants,maxillary sinus augmentation and bone remodeling); for muscle, tendonand ligament repair; facial plastic and reconstructive surgery; chronicskin wound healing, skin burn healing, ophthalmology; facial nerveregeneration, peripheral nerve repair, central nervous system (CNS)repair (spine and/or brain surgery), optic nerve repair, nervecompression syndrome repair, cranial nerve repair, sciatic nerve repair;cardiac and bariatric surgery.

The extract can be administered onto a surface of a body part of apatient. The term “surface” refers to an external surface that can beseen by unaided vision and to a surface of an internal body part whichis a part of the internal anatomy of an organism. External surfacesinclude, but are not limited to, the skin of the face, throat, scalp,chest, back, ears, neck, hand, elbow, hip, knee, and other skin sites.Examples of internal body parts include, but are not limited to, bodycavity or anatomical opening that are exposed to the externalenvironment and internal organs such as the nostrils; the lips; theears; the genital area, including the uterus, vagina and ovaries; thelungs; the anus; the spleen; the liver; and the cardiac muscle. Thesurface can be a bleeding or a non-bleeding site. Alternatively, theextract can be administered by injection e.g. intradermally,intraperitonealy, subcutaneously, intrathecally, intrasternally,intracranialy, intramuscularly, and/or intravenously. The extract canalso be administered by infusion.

The term “a therapeutically effective amount” refers to the doserequired to prevent or treat (relieve a symptom or all of the symptoms)a disease, disorder or condition. The effective amount can be measuredbased on any change in the course of the disease in response to theadministration of the composition. The effective dose can be changeddepending on the age and weight of the subject, the disease and itsseverity (e.g. early or advanced stage) and other factors which can berecognized by the skilled in the art.

The extract can also comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.As used herein the term “excipient” refers to an inert substance whichis added into the extract. The excipients can be added, for example, inorder to ensure that the active substances retain their chemicalstability and/or biological activity upon storage, to aid themanufacturing process and/or for aesthetic reasons e.g. color. The addedexcipient is generally safe and non-toxic.

The platelet extract according to the invention can be used incombination with a surgical sealant. Different types of surgicalsealants can be used in combination with the platelet extract,including, but not limited to, a biological sealant (such as a fibrinsealant prepared with fibrinogen and thrombin components); a syntheticsealant such as acrylates, cyanoacrylates, and polyethylene glycol (PEG)polymers; and a semisynthetic sealant e.g. made from a combination ofbiological and synthetic materials such asgelatin-formaldehyde-resorcinol (GFR) glue. In one embodiment of theinvention, the platelet extract is used in combination with fibrinsealant components. In another embodiment of the invention, the plateletextract is used with a synthetic sealant.

The invention provides a kit. The kit may comprise a recipientcomprising the extract according to the invention. The extract can be ina solid form, as a solution or in frozen form. In the case that theextract is provided in solid form, the kit can further comprise arecipient with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for reconstitutingthe solid extract. The kit may further comprise one or more syringesand/or syringe needles for injection the extract to the patient. The kitcan comprise instructions for use. The instructions may describe how toadminister the extract to a patient. The invention also relates to a kitcomprising recipients containing the components of the fibrin sealant orthe synthetic sealant, a recipient containing the extract of theinvention and instructions for use. Optionally, the extract of theinvention can be in the recipient of one component of the fibrinsealant. Also, the invention relates to a kit comprising a recipientcontaining the lyophilized extract, a recipient containing areconstitution solution or carrier and instructions for use.

The fibrin sealant components can be prepared from blood compositions.The blood composition can be whole blood or blood fractions, i.e. aproduct of whole blood such as plasma.

In one embodiment of the invention, the fibrinogen component iscomprised from a biologically active component (BAC) which is a solutionof proteins derived from blood plasma which can further comprisetranexamic acid and arginine or lysine or mixtures or arginine andlysine, or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. BAC can be derivedfrom cryoprecipitate, in particular concentrated cryoprecipitate. Theterm “cryoprecipitate” refers to a blood component which is obtainedfrom frozen plasma prepared from whole blood. A cryoprecipitate can beobtained when frozen plasma is thawed in the cold, typically at atemperature of 0-4° C., resulting in the formation of precipitatedsupernatant that contains fibrinogen and factor XIII. The precipitatecan be collected, for example by centrifugation. The solution of BACcomprises further Factor VIII, fibronectin, von Willebrand factor (vWF),vitronectin, etc. for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,121,232and WO9833533.

The composition of BAC can comprise stabilizers such as argininehydrochloride. Typically, the amount of fibrinogen in BAC is in therange of from about 40 to about 60 mg/ml. The amount of tranexamic acidin the solution of BAC can be from about 80 to about 110 mg/ml. Theamount of arginine hydrochloride can be from about 15 to about 25 mg/ml.

Optionally, the solution is buffered to a physiological compatible pHvalue. The buffer can be composed of glycine, sodium citrate, sodiumchloride, calcium chloride and water for injection as a vehicle. Glycinecan be present in the composition in the amount of from about 6 to about10 mg/ml, the sodium citrate can be in the range of from about 1 toabout 5 mg/ml, sodium chloride can be in the range of from about 5 toabout 9 mg/ml and calcium chloride can be in the concentration of about0.1-0.2 mg/ml.

In another embodiment, the concentration of plasminogen and plasmin inthe BAC composition is lowered to equal or less than 15 μg/ml like forexample 5 μg/ml or less plasminogen e.g. using a method as described inU.S. Pat. No. 7,125,569 and WO02095019. In this case addition oftranexamic acid, aprotinine or any other fibrinolytic inhibitors intothe BAC is not needed.

It is also possible that the fibrin sealant comprises components whichencourage the formation of the clot, such as Ca²⁺, Factor VIII,fibronectin, vitronectin, von Willebrand factor (vWF) which can beprovided as a separate component or formulated with the fibrin sealantcomponents.

Fibrin sealant components derived from blood compositions are typicallypurified from infective particles. The purification procedure can becarried out by nanofiltration; solvent/detergent treatment and/or by anyother method known in the art.

The term “infective particle” refers to a microscopic particle, such asmicro-organism or a prion, which can infect or propagate in cells of abiological organism. The infective particles can be viral particles.

The platelet extract prepared according to the invention can be used incombination with various cell types e.g. fibroblast and stem cells e.g.endothelial stem cells e.g. HUVEC. The cell type can be determinedaccording to the intended therapeutic use. For example, for regenerationof intervertebral disc, a cell composition comprisingnotochordal-derived cells can be used. For induction of angiogenesis,endothelial stem cells can be used.

The platelet extract of the invention can be prepared by a methodincluding at least two different viral inactivation treatments andcomprises the following steps: obtaining platelet-enriched fractionsfrom multiple donors; lysing the platelets; carrying out aSolvent-Detergent (S/D) viral inactivation treatment; removing the S/Dby hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC); and conducting a secondorthogonal viral inactivation treatment e.g. pasteurization. The HICcomprises the steps of: loading the lysate to HIC, and collecting afraction eluted under non isocratic conditions.

Loading the lysate to HIC can be carried out by contacting the lysatewith the HIC resin that is packed within a column.

The term “contact between the lysate and the HIC resin” is used in itsbroadest sense and refers, for example, to any type of combining actionwhich brings the lysate into sufficiently close proximity with the resinsuch that a binding interaction will occur between the S/D materialpresent within the lysate and the resin.

The invention provides a method for the preparation of a viral-safeplatelet extract which comprises at least two orthogonal viralinactivation treatments, the method comprising the steps of: providingplatelet-enriched fractions from multiple donors; preparing a plateletlysate; carrying out a solvent detergent (S/D) viral inactivationtreatment e.g. in an aggregate-reduced lysate; removing the S/D by HICcomprising the steps of loading the lysate to HIC, and collectingunbound materials and a fraction eluted under non isocratic conditions;and conducting a second orthogonal virus inactivation treatment.

Fractions from which the platelet-enriched material can be obtainedinclude, but are not limited to, blood fractions, plasma fractions,washed and leukocyte-reduced platelets from aphaeresis, and plateletsfrom aphaeresis. In one embodiment, washed and/or leukocyte-reducedplatelets pooled from multiple donors is used as the starting materialfor preparation of the platelet extract.

Advantageously, using washed platelets as the starting material enablesobtaining a non-clottable platelet extract with reduced plasmaimpurities as defined above.

Typically, the term “platelet starting material” relates toplatelet-enriched fractions obtained from multiple donors for use in themethod of the invention. The platelet-enriched fractions can be, forexample, separated from units of whole blood, from blood fractionsand/or from plasma fractions. The platelet-enriched fractions can beobtained from aphaeresis donations. The starting material can be washedand/or leukocyte-reduced. In one embodiment of the invention, theplatelet-enriched fractions are washed and leukocyte-reduced and areobtained from aphaeresis donations. In one embodiment, the minimalnumber of platelets in an aphaeresis leukocyte-reduced collected unit isabout or more than 3.0×10¹¹ as specified in the “Circular of Informationfor the Use of Human Blood and Blood Components”.

The term “washed platelets” refers to platelets which were subjected toa washing step. During the washing procedure there can also be losses ofplatelets. The washing can be carried out using 0.9% Sodium Chloridewith or without small amounts of dextrose. The washing procedure can becarried out as elaborated in the “Circular of Information for the Use ofHuman Blood and Blood Components”. In one embodiment of the invention,the washing is carried out as follows: a platelet material unit iscentrifuged under gentle conditions. Then, the supernatant is discardedand the platelet pellet is washed at least twice (with centrifugationbetween the washes) with saline under gentle conditions. The washed andre-suspended platelets can be frozen until used in the method of theinvention.

The term “leukocyte-reduced” refers to a content of leukocyte which islower than the content of leukocyte in whole blood (content in wholeblood is about 1 to 10×10⁹ white cells per blood unit). Any leukocytesreduction methods, e.g. by filtration, can be used to obtain aleukocyte-reduced unit. The reduction in leukocytes can be carried outduring aphaeresis. In one embodiment of the invention, a unit ofplatelets which contains less than about 8.3×10⁵ leukocytes is used asthe starting material for the preparation of the platelet extract. Inanother embodiment, a leukocyte-reduced unit of platelets which containsless than about 5×10⁶ leukocytes is used as the starting material forthe preparation of the platelet extract.

The term “aphaeresis” typically refers to the withdrawal of blood from asingle donor, with a portion (e.g. platelets) being separated andretained and the remainder retransfused into the donor. One unit ofaphaeresis platelets obtained from a single donor can contain about orhigher than 3.0×10¹¹ platelets. In one embodiment of the invention, oneunit of aphaeresis platelets obtained from a single donor contains up to6.0×10¹¹ platelets

Lysis of the platelets and release of the factors (e.g. various plateletgrowth factors and/or trophic factors) entrapped in the platelets, canbe carried out by freezing and thawing the platelets enriched fractions,by S/D treatment, by sonication [Slezak et al., (1987) J. Exp. Med. V166p 489-505], by French press [Salganicoff et al., (1975) Biochem.Biophys. Acta v385 p 394-411] and/or by any other method known in theart. In one embodiment of the invention, lysis of the platelets iscarried out by freezing and thawing the platelets enriched fractionsfollowed by carrying out an S/D treatment. Typically, lysis of theplatelets produces a cell free platelet lysate.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first viral inactivation step ofthe extract preparation comprises solvent-detergent (S/D) treatment ofthe platelets for eliminating enveloped viruses. The S/D treatment alsopromotes lysis of the platelets and release of their content into thesolution. For optimal envelope viral inactivation, a sub-step includingaggregates removal (e.g. by filtration) is carried out during the S/Dtreatment step.

The term “S/D removal (solvent-detergent removal)” refers to the removalof the bulk of the solvent-detergent used in the S/D treatment. Theremoval of solvent-detergent comprises using hydrophobic interactionchromatography column (HIC) e.g. C-18 silica packing material and SDR(Solvent-Detergent removal) HyperD. The S/D removal can further comprisea step of oil extraction. In one embodiment of the invention, SDRHyperD, which is a chromatographic packing made of silica beads in whichthe pore volume is filled with a three-dimensional cross-linkedhydrophobic acrylic polymer, is used to remove the solvent-detergent.The SDR HyperD advantageously involves a mixed-mode adsorption ofhydrophobic interaction and is associated with a molecular exclusioneffect [Guerrier L et al. “Specific sorbent to remove solvent-detergentmixtures from virus-inactivated biological fluids”. J Chromatogr BBiomed Appl. 1995 Feb. 3; 664(1):119-125]. It was found according to theinvention that better results were obtained using SDR+ elutionconditions as compared to C-18+ elution conditions. In one embodiment,increased PDGF-AB recoveries were obtained using SDR+ elutionconditions.

HIC refers e.g. to a column packed with a hydrophobic polymer resinmatrix.

The hydrophobic interaction chromatography can be carried out by loadingto the HIC column the S/D treated lysate in a binding buffer. The columncan be equilibrated prior to loading the S/D treated lysate e.g. bywashing the column with the binding buffer. The term “equilibrate”refers to allowing and/or adjusting the column to reach a specificbuffer condition such as a specific pH level and ionic strength. In oneembodiment, the adjustment of the column is carried out by washing thecolumn with an equilibration buffer having a predetermined pH level andionic strength prior to loading the S/D treated lysate onto the column.In one embodiment of the invention, the equilibration buffer comprises20 mM sodium acetate and 10 mM glycine at pH 6.8-7.4 and 5% (v/v fromthe total volume) human serum albumin (HSA). In another embodiment ofthe invention, the equilibration buffer comprises 20 mM sodium acetateand 10 mM glycine at pH 6.8-7.4 and 1% human serum albumin (v/v from thetotal volume). In another embodiment of the invention, the equilibrationbuffer comprises 20 mM sodium acetate and 10 mM glycine at pH 6.8-7.4and 0.2% human serum albumin (v/v from the total volume). Yet in anotherembodiment of the invention, the equilibration buffer comprises 20 mMsodium acetate and 10 mM glycine at pH 6.8-7.4, 0.2% human serum albumin(v/v from the total volume) and 1% dextran sulfate (w/w from the totalweight). The equilibration buffer can comprise HSA in a concentrationrange from about 0.2 to about 5% (v/v from the total volume).

The term “binding buffer” refers to the buffer used during loading ofthe S/D treated lysate onto the chromatography column. Oftentimes, theequilibration buffer used to adjust the column prior and/or duringloading the lysate is termed binding buffer. In one embodiment of theinvention, the binding buffer comprises 20 mM sodium acetate and 10 mMglycine at pH 6.8-7.4 and 5% (v/v from the total volume) human serumalbumin. In another embodiment, the binding buffer comprises 20 mMsodium acetate and 10 mM glycine at pH 6.8-7.4 and 1% human serumalbumin (v/v from the total volume). In another embodiment, the bindingbuffer comprises 20 mM sodium acetate and 10 mM glycine at pH 6.8-7.4and 0.2% human serum albumin (v/v from the total volume). Yet in anotherembodiment, the binding buffer comprises 20 mM sodium acetate and 10 mMglycine at pH 6.8-7.4, 0.2% human serum albumin (v/v from the totalvolume) and 1% dextran sulfate (w/w from the total weight). The bindingbuffer can comprise HSA in a concentration range from about 0.2 to about5% (v/v from the total volume).

The term “unbound material” typically refers to the fraction collectedfollowing washing of the loaded column with the same buffer used forequilibration and/or the buffer used for loading the S/D treated extractonto the column (“binding buffer”). Advantageously, in the S/D removalstep, using HIC, after washing the column and collecting unboundmaterial, a non-isocratic solution is used to increase the recovery ofcertain growth factors, e.g. PDGF-AB and bFGF; to obtain a more balancedcomposition and/or an extract having a physiologically balancedproportion. In this regard, S/D removal in the S/D treated lysate iscarried out by loading the S/D treated lysate onto HIC in a bindingsolution, washing with an isocratic solution, collecting the unboundmaterial containing the lysate substantially without the S/D and nextcollecting PDGF-AB, and perhaps other factors e.g. bFGF, bound to theHIC resin by using elution conditions. The most common elutionconditions employ a shift in the composition of the mobile phase or anon-isocratic solution so the factors e.g. PDGF-AB binding environmentcreated by the binding solution is lost.

In one embodiment of the invention, PDGF-AB is 3-fold enriched, duringS/D removal employing HIC, by eluting PDGF-AB bound to the HIC resinusing non isocratic elution conditions.

The term “elution conditions” refers to using a non-isocratic conditione.g. a solution or condition different from the solution or conditionused to load and/or equilibrate the column, and/or different from thesolution used in a previous step. The elution conditions are such thatS/D substantially remains bound to the column whereas the factors areeluted. The method according to the invention comprises at least oneelution step with a non isocratic solution.

Elution conditions, typically involves an increase in saltconcentration. It was found that when using a C-18 resin, a positivecorrelation exists between NaCl concentration in the elution buffer andPDGF-AB recovery following HIC using a concentration ranging from 0.3 Mup to 1M NaCl. Improved results were obtained at a concentration of 1 M(about 30% PDGF-AB recovery). When using SDR resin, similar PDGF-ABrecoveries were obtained in all NaCl tested concentrations of 0.7 and1.5 M.

A further improvement in the elution conditions for PDGF-AB was obtainedby adding an organic solvent to the buffer in combination with anincrease in salt concentrations. Optimal elution conditions are suchthat S/D substantially remains bound to the column whereas most of thefactors are eluted.

It was found according to the invention that a high PDGF-AB recovery wasobtained with lower than 1 M NaCl and/or lower than 20% ethanol in bothC-18 and SDR resins without substantially affecting SD removal.

It was found according to the invention that increased elution for b-FGFwas obtained by adding in the buffer, in addition to ethanol and NaCl, amolecule capable of binding b-FGF e.g. heparin. Optimal results wereobtained for PDGF-AB and b-FGF recovery when incubating the lysate witha molecule capable of binding growth/trophic factors (e.g. dextransulfate) prior to the S/D removal step and carrying out the S/D removalstep in the presence of such molecule.

In one embodiment of the invention, the elution solution employed isdifferent from the binding buffer e.g. different from a solutioncontaining 20 mM sodium acetate, 10 mM glycine and 0.2% human serumalbumin; different from a solution containing 20 mM sodium acetate, 10mM glycine and 1% human serum albumin and/or different from a solutioncontaining 20 mM sodium acetate, 10 mM glycine and 5% human serumalbumin. In another embodiment of the invention, the elution solutioncomprises components other than sodium acetate, glycine and human serumalbumin. In another embodiment of the invention, the elution solutioncomprises components other than 20 mM sodium acetate, 10 mM glycine and0.2% human serum albumin. In another embodiment, the elution buffercomprises an organic solvent, a salt, and/or a molecule that bindsgrowth/throphic factor(s). In another embodiment, the elution buffercomprises ethanol e.g. at a concentration from 10-12.5%, NaCl e.g. at aconcentration of 0.5M-1M, heparin e.g. at a concentration of 5 IU/mland/or dextran sulphate e.g. at a concentration of 0.1-1%. In anotherembodiment, the elution solution comprises 20 mM sodium acetate, 10 mMglycine, 10% ethanol, 1M NaCl, and 0.2% human serum albumin. In anotherembodiment, the elution solution comprises 20 mM sodium acetate, 10 mMglycine, 12.5% ethanol, 0.5M NaCl, and 0.2% human serum albumin. Inanother embodiment, the elution solution comprises 20 mM sodium acetate,10 mM glycine, 12.5% ethanol, 0.5M NaCl, 5 IU/ml Heparin and 0.2% humanserum albumin. In another embodiment, the elution solution comprises 20mM sodium acetate, 10 mM glycine, 1% dextran sulfate and 0.2% humanserum albumin. In another embodiment, the elution solution comprises 20mM sodium acetate, 10 mM glycine, 12.5% ethanol, 0.5M NaCl, 0.1% dextransulfate and 0.2% human serum albumin. Yet in another embodiment, thesolution comprises 20 mM sodium acetate, 10 mM glycine, 1% dextransulfate and 0.2% HSA. In one embodiment of the invention, the methodcomprises more than one elution step. In such case the elution solutionis different from the solution used in a previous step and can be thesame as the binding buffer.

In one embodiment of the invention, the non isocratic solution isacetate glycine buffer (e.g. 20 mM sodium acetate and 10 mM glycine atpH 6.8-7.4) containing from 5% to 15% ethanol, from 0.2M to 1.2M NaCl,and from 0.1% to 1.0% HSA e.g. 0.2% HSA. Other possible salts are, butnot limited to, KCl, MgCl₂, CaCl₂. Other possible solvents are, but notlimited to, isopropanol, glycerol, ethyelene glycol.

It was found according to the invention that by carrying out two elutionsteps I—with acetate glycine buffer (20 mM sodium acetate and 10 mMglycine at pH 6.8-7.4) containing 12.5% ethanol, 0.5M NaCl, 5 IU/mlHeparin [a molecule that binds growth/trophic factor(s)], and 0.2% HSA;and II—with acetate glycine buffer (20 mM sodium acetate and 10 mMglycine at pH 6.8-7.4) containing 10% ethanol, 1M NaCl and 0.2% HSA, atleast 3-fold recovery or enrichment of PDGF-AB can be obtained and about1.8-fold recovery or enrichment of bFGF can be obtained (as in LYO VI)as compared to a preparation obtain in the absence of such elutionssteps.

In one embodiment of the invention, a two step elution with a nonisocratic condition is carried out. In another embodiment of theinvention the non isocratic solution used in at least one of the steps,e.g. the first step, comprises a molecule that binds growth factors suchas heparin at a concentration range of 2 to 30 IU/ml, 2-25 IU/ml, 2-20IU/ml, 2-15 IU/ml, 2-10 IU/ml, or 2-5 IU/ml. In one embodiment of theinvention, the non isocratic solution comprises heparin at aconcentration of 5 IU/ml.

It was also found according to the invention that by adding a step ofincubation with dextran sulphate at a final concentration of 1% (w/w) [amolecule that binds growth/trophic factor(s)] after S/D treatment andprior to S/D removal step, and by carrying out two elution steps, onewith acetate glycine buffer (20 mM sodium acetate and 10 mM glycine atpH 6.8-7.4) containing 12.5% ethanol, 0.5M NaCl, 0.1% dextran sulfateand 0.2% HSA, and another with 1% dextran sulfate and 0.2% HSA inacetate glycine buffer during S/D removal step, about 6.6-fold recoveryor enrichment of PDGF-AB, and about 2.8-fold recovery or enrichment ofbFGF can be obtained (as in LYO VII) as compared to preparationsobtained without such elutions. By these elution steps, the recovery ofbFGF can be increased to 85% and the recovery of PDGF-AB can beincreased to 88% as compared to concentrations of the factors prior toS/D removal by HIC.

Surprisingly, the overall recovery of PDGF-AB (from the startingmaterial, WAP) in LYO VII was 51% compared with the overall recovery ofPDGF-AB of 1.5% in LYO VI. The overall recovery of VEGF in LYO VII was73% compared to 37% in LYO VI.

In one embodiment of the invention, the method of the invention furthercomprises the step of contacting the lysate with a molecule that bindsfactors e.g. growth factors prior to the S/D removal step. The moleculethat binds factors can be e.g. dextran sulphate at a final concentrationrange of 0.01 to 1% e.g. at a concentration of 1% (w/w). In such anembodiment, the binding buffer comprises dextran sulphate in addition tosodium acetate, glycine, and human serum albumin. In another embodimentof the invention, the non isocratic solution comprises dextran sulphateat a final concentration of 0.1% (w/w).

It was found according to the invention that the sequence of elutionsolutions plays a role in the recovery level of PDGF-AB and b-FGF.Namely, factor recoveries can vary when different non isocraticsolutions are used and/or when the elution order is changed or reversed.

The molecule can be heparin, dextran sulphate, heparan sulfate, andother sulfated polysaccharides, glycosaminoglycans, or polyanions, andthe like to which growth/trophic factors can bind upon contact.

The term “contact between the molecule and the factor” is used in itsbroadest sense and refers to any type of combining action which bringsthe molecule into sufficiently close proximity with the factors ofinterest present in the lysate such that a binding interaction willoccur between the chemical compound and the factors. Contacting can becarried out in a different ways, including, but not limited to,introducing the compound into the lysate.

Advantageously, contacting the lysate with a molecule that binds growthfactors and/or trophic factors prior to S/D removal step results in anincrease/enrichment in the amounts of several factors e.g. PDGF-AB,bFGF.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for removingsolvent-detergent (S/D) from a biological liquid substance byhydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC). The method comprises thesteps of loading the liquid comprising S/D to HIC, collecting theunbound fraction and a fraction eluted under non isocratic conditions.Yet, in another aspect, the invention relates to a method for removingsolvent-detergent (S/D) from a biological liquid substance byhydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC). The method comprises thesteps of loading the liquid comprising S/D to HIC, and collecting afraction eluted under non isocratic conditions.

The term “biological liquid substance” or “biological liquid mixture”refer to any type of liquid substance obtained from a biological source.This typically includes, but is not limited to, preparations obtainedfrom body fluids such as whole blood plasma or blood fractions e.g.cryodepleted plasma, cryoprecipitate, plasma or serum; semen; sputum;feces; sweat; saliva; nasal mucus; cerebrospinal fluid; a plateletderived fraction such as PRP-R; and urine, as well as liquids obtainedfrom cell cultures, containing biological substances secreted by thecells into the preparation, or containing substances which originallywere present inside the cells, and were released to the liquidpreparation due to various manipulations such as the lysing of thecells.

In one embodiment, the method for removing S/D can be used during aprocess for viral inactivation of a biological liquid preparation.Biologically derived liquid preparations such as blood and plasmapreparations are used as raw materials from

which a plurality of biologically useful compounds can be purified.Examples of such compounds include immunoglobulin, factor VIII, albumin,a 1 anti trypsine, Factor IX, factor XI, PPSB, fibrinogen, and thrombin(prothrombin). In addition, various biological products such ashormones, growth factors, enzymes and ligands are isolated frombiological preparations obtained from cell cultures. For example, theprocess of viral inactivation of a biological liquid preparationcomprises the steps of:(a) treating the biological liquid preparation with a solvent-detergentcombination, at concentrations and under conditions which are sufficientto inactivate lipid-coated viruses;(b) removing the solvent-detergent combination from the liquidpreparation by passing the liquid preparation obtained in (a) on HIC;and(c) collecting the unbound fraction and a fraction eluted under nonisocratic conditions.

In another embodiment, in step (c) only the fraction eluted under nonisocratic conditions can be collected.

Use of an isocratic solution typically relates to the use of aconstant-composition mobile phase in liquid chromatography. A“non-isocratic solution” typically refers e.g. to a solution and/or acondition that is different from the solution and/or condition used toload and/or wash the column and/or to a solution that is different froma solution used in the previous step.

In order to remove non-enveloped viruses, at least a second viralinactivation step e.g. a heat treatment (pasteurization) can be carriedout.

In certain embodiments, additional reduction in aggregate content isobtained by including in the methods of the invention a step of calciumsupplementation followed by clarification filtration.

The term “calcium supplementation” refers to the addition of calciume.g. a calcium salt into the extract/biological liquid substance.Examples of calcium salts include, but are not limited to, calciumcarbonate, calcium hydroxide, calcium citrate, calcium chlorophosphate,calcium phosphate including dicalcium phosphate and tricalciumphosphate, calcium chloride or a combination thereof. Calcium can besupplemented in a final concentration range of 1 to 100 mM. In oneembodiment, CaCl₂ is added into the extract at a final concentration of40 mM. The extract can be incubated for 30 minutes e.g. at 25° C. whilemixing at 50 RPM following the calcium supplementation.

The term “clarification filtration” refers to the removal of particlessuch as aggregates from the extract/biological liquid substance byfiltration. A multi-filtration step can be carried out. For example, theextract can be sequentially filtered through 20, 3 and 0.45 μm filters.Sterile filtration can be carried out e.g. by 0.2 μm filter.

If desired, the platelet extract obtained by the method of the inventioncan be formulated with a cryoprotectant and lyophilized.

The term “cryoprotectant” refers to a substance which is added tosolutions in order to retain the chemical stability and/or biologicalactivity of the active components (e.g. growth factors and/or trophicfactors) during freezing. Non limiting examples of cryoprotectantinclude, but are not limited to, carbohydrates such as Monosaccharides:include glucose (dextrose), fructose (levulose), galactose, andribosedisaccharides Disaccharides: sucrose, lactose, maltose andtrehalose and Disaccharides oligosaccharides another group are thepoliols Sugar alcohols: Maltitol, Mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol andisomalt. Apart of carbohydrates other polymers such as Polyethyleneglycol (PEG) can also be used as cryoprotectants such as polyethyleneoxide (PEO) or polyoxyethylene (POE) Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Otheramino acids and polyamines.

The term “lyophilization” typically refers to the process of freezing asubstance and then reducing the concentration of water e.g. bysublimation to levels which do not support biological or chemicalreactions. The resulting lyophilized biological material may be storedfor a relatively long period of time. Following storage, the lyophilizedmaterial can be used as a powder or can be reconstituted by the additionof various volumes of an aqueous solution. The volume added duringreconstitution can be similar to the volume of the solution beforelyophilization, lower (resulting in a concentration of the extractcompared to the volume of the starting material) or higher (resulting ina dilution of the extract compared to the volume of the startingmaterial).

If desired, the platelet extract can be kept frozen or as solid e.g.lyophilized for prolonged storage or for use as a powder.

For example, the platelet extract obtained by the method of theinvention can be kept frozen e.g. at −18° C. or at lower temperature, oras solid (e.g. lyophilized) for prolonged storage. The platelet extractcan also be refrigerated e.g. at a temperature of 2° C. to 8° C.

The lyophilized extract can be used as solid or can be reconstituted ina pharmaceutically acceptable carrier prior to use. The term a“pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” refers to any diluent and/or avehicle which is suitable for human administration or for animaladministration. The carrier can be selected from any of the carriersknown in the art such as, but not limited to, saline, sodium chloridesolution, lactated ringers (LR), 5% dextrose in normal saline, and waterfor injection.

If administered with fibrin sealant, the extract can be reconstituted inone of the sealant components (thrombin or fibrinogen) or can bereconstituted separately in another diluent or vehicle.

Of advantage, the lyophilization cycle and the formulation can allow fora very fast reconstitution of the extract e.g. within fibrin sealante.g. to facilitate hemostasis and healing which calls for an emergencyuse, thus in this case the reconstitution is beneficially done withinseconds. In one embodiment of the invention, albumin is used in theformulation to allow fast reconstitution.

The invention is based on the following experiments and findings whichexemplify the preparation of the platelet extract according to theinvention, and show its activity (in in-vitro and in-vivo settings). Thedisclosure of applications, patents and publications, cited above orbelow, is hereby incorporated by reference.

The following examples are illustrative but not limiting.

EXAMPLES Materials and Methods

Washed Aphaeresis Platelets Leukocyte-Reduced (WAP) Preparation.

Platelet material units (platelets aphaeresis leukocyte-reduced units)were collected and processed according to the “Circular of Informationfor the Use of Human Blood and Blood Components” (December 2009) andconformed to applicable federal statuses and regulations of the FDA andUS Department of Health.

Each unit had a volume of approximately 200 ml. Each unit was drawn froma single donor who was screened and found acceptable for donation of atransfusable blood component based on FDA regulations, requirements andguidelines. Included were only units which were found non-reactive forred blood cell antibodies and negative for the following viruses byusing FDA-approved kits and methods: Hepatitis B virus surface antigen;Antibody to hepatitis B virus core antigen; Hepatitis C virus antibody;Human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type 1 and 2 antibody; Humanimmunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 antibody; HIV-1 by nucleic acidtechnology testing (NAT); HCV RNA by NAT; West Nile Virus RNA by NAT;and Serological test for syphilis. The minimal number of platelets in anaphaeresis leukocyte-reduced collected unit was as specified in theCircular of Information: ≧3.0×10¹¹ (the number of platelets in a singlewhole blood unit is ≧5.5×10¹⁰).

All units were maintained under the recommended conditions fortransfusion (see the direction for use for the blood collection,processing, and storage system approved by the FDA) until the washingstep.

Washing Procedure.

Each unit was washed under aseptic conditions as follows:

-   -   1. Each unit was centrifuged at 4658×g for 6 minutes (break        rotor was not used) at room temperature. Under these gentle        conditions breakage of the cells was avoided.    -   2. The supernatant was discarded and the platelet pellet was        re-constituted in 200 ml sterile docked saline (a way of        transferring liquids between containers in a closed system to        maintain aseptic conditions).    -   3. A second centrifugation was carried out in the same        conditions specified in step 1.    -   4. The saline was discarded and the pelleted platelets were        re-suspended in 200 ml sterile docked saline.    -   5. The washed and re-suspended platelets were frozen at −20 to        −30° C. The freezing step was carried out within 4 hours from        the previous step.

The above elaborated collection and washing procedures of theleukocyte-reduced platelets aphaeresis unit were carried out in a bloodcollection center (Rock River Valley Blood Center, Rockford, Ill./FDALicense #249). The final WAP bags were supplied for the experimentswithin two months from the date of preparation. The units were receivedfrozen on dry ice.

Example 1 Lyophilized Platelet Extract Prepared from Pooled WAP andTreated with Solvent Detergent (S/D)

Nine WAP bags (each bag containing approximately 200 ml) were thawed byplacing the bags at 37° C. water bath for 30 min. In the next step, theWAP bags were wiped with 70% ethanol, cut open, and their content waspoured into a stainless steel beaker at room temperature (about 22° C.).The beaker was placed on a stirring device and the pooled WAP material(˜1800 ml) was mixed slowly for 5 minutes at room temperature (about 22°C.). During stirring, 200 ml acetate-glycine buffer [200 mM sodiumacetate (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo., USA; Cat. Number 32318); and 100mM glycine (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo., USA; Cat. Number 15527) at pH6.8-7.4)] and human serum albumin (HSA; at a final concentration of 5%v/v from the total volume) (Plasbumin 25, Talecris Biotherapuetics, NC,USA; Cat. number Plasbumin 25) were added into the pooled WAP. A sampleof 500 ml (out of 2000 ml) was removed and treated with solvent anddetergent (S/D) to inactivate lipid-enveloped viruses (see procedurebelow). The rest (1500 ml) was frozen at −80° C. for later analysis(“pooled WAP”). The 500 ml sample was transferred to a chilled (4° C.)stainless steel beaker and placed at 4° C. water bath. The sample wassubjected to S/D treatment as follows: 1% Triton X-100 (Sigma-Aldrich,St. Louis, Mo., USA; Cat. number 20180501) and 0.3% tri(n-butyl)phosphate (TnBP; Merck Cat. number 100002) (v/v) were mixed together andthen added slowly into the sample while stirring at 60 RPM by using a3-bladed stainless steel propeller connected to an RW20 overhead stirrer(IKA-Werke GmbH & Co., Staufen, Germany). The sample was thencontinuously stirred for 4 hours at 4° C. After the S/D treatment, thesample was filtered sequentially through 20, 10 and 5 μm polypropylenecapsule filters (DOL Type, MDI Advanced Microdevices Pvt. Ltd., Ambala,India; Cat. number DOLX5111DDXX101, DOLX5108DDXX101, DOLX5107DDXX101,respectively) in order to remove gross particulate debris prior to theS/D removal step.

Removal of the S/D was carried out by using XK26/40 liquidchromatography column (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, GE Healthcare; Cat.number 18-8768-01) packed with 80 ml of SDR HyperD solvent-detergentremoval chromatography resin (Pall Corp, Port Washington, N.Y., USA;Cat. number 20033-015) in conjunction with AKTAprime automated liquidchromatography system (GE Healthcare). The column length was 15 cm. Theflow rate throughout the run was 10 ml/min. The column was prepared with320 ml of double distilled water (ddH₂0) and equilibrated by 240 ml ofacetate-glycine buffer (20 mM sodium acetate, 10 mM glycine at pH6.8-7.4) and HSA (5% v/v from the total volume). After loading thesample (500 ml), the column was washed with 144 ml of acetate-glycinebuffer (as above) containing 5% HSA v/v followed by 144 ml of ddH₂O. Thetotal flow through volume collected which included unbound sample andwashing buffer was 720 ml. D-mannitol (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.,USA; Cat number M9546) in acetate-glycine buffer (as above) was addedinto the flow through collected material (at a final concentration of 2%v/v) and served as a cryoprotectant of proteins during the nextfreeze-drying process. Freezing and thawing of the WAP and subjectingthe WAP to S/D treatment and S/D removal resulted in a preparation ofplatelet extract/lysate.

The flow through collected material was aliquoted into autoclaved glassvials (Fiolax Clear 40×22×1 mm, Schott, Müllheim, Germany) (2 ml in eachvial) and lyophilized (Freeze Dryer Epsilon 2-8D, Martin ChristGefriertrocknungsanlagen GmbH, Osterode am Harz, Germany) according tothe cycle elaborated in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Lyophilization cycle. Step Time Temp Vacuum no. Process phase(h:m) (° C.) (mBar) 01 Start Values 00:00 4 OFF 02 Freezing 01:00 −30OFF 03 Freezing 01:00 −50 OFF 04 Freezing 05:40 −50 OFF 05 Preparation00:20 −45 Off 06 Sublimation 00:15 −40 0.200 07 Sublimation 00:15 −250.200 08 Sublimation 25:00 −25 0.200 09 Sublimation 01:00 −15 0.200 10Sublimation 12:00 −15 0.200 11 Sublimation 02:00 20 0.200 12 Sublimation05:00 20 0.200 13 Secondary Drying 00:30 25 0.012 14 Secondary Drying18:00 25 0.012

The lyophilized material was sealed with autoclaved rubber stoppers(Silicone 20 mm, West Pharmaceutical Services, Lionville, Pa., USA; Cat.number 7001-2742) under nitrogen atmosphere and in partial vacuum (0.6Bar). The lyophilized platelet extract prepared from pooled WAP, treatedwith S/D and SDR HyperD chromatography resin is referred herein as “LYOI”.

The purification step in LYO I included a single viral inactivation stepof S/D treatment.

Example 2 Protein Profile Characterization of Different Platelet ExtractPreparations

The following experiment was aimed to characterize the protein profileof washed leukocyte-reduced aphaeresis platelets [WAP material withoutany treatment (obtained from the US Blood Collection Center mentionedabove) as compared to washed platelets from whole blood (obtained fromMDA Blood Bank)]; and to examine whether S/D treatment or S/Dtreatment+SDR HyperD chromatography resin purification affects theprotein profile of WAP. S/D treatment and SDR HyperD chromatographyresin purification were carried out as elaborated above. In all casesextracts were obtained by freezing and thawing the platelets and, ifindicated, by S/D treatment. Protein profile analysis was carried out bysodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).The protein amount of each tested preparation is specified below. Thetotal protein amount was determined using Pierce BCA Protein Assay(Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Rockford, Ill., USA; Cat. number 23235)according to the manufacturer instructions. The SDS-PAGE procedure wascarried out in the following manner: the preparations were loaded onto a4-12% tris-glycine gel 1.5 mm×10 wells (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.,USA; Cat. number EC6038BOX) with tris-glycine running buffer (Bio-RadLaboratories, Hercules, Calif., USA; Cat number 161-0772). The runningconditions used were 25 mA constant current for 1.5 hours usingPowerPack 300 power supply (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, Calif.,USA). After the running step, the gel was stained overnight at 2-8° C.using InstantBlue Coomassie based staining solution according to themanufacturer instructions (Expedeon Inc., San Diego, Calif., USA; Catnumber ISB01L). FIG. 1 shows the protein profile of the differentpreparations.

The results show that washed leukocyte-reduced aphaeresis platelets(WAP; lane 4) contain very small amounts of albumin relative to washedplatelets obtained from whole blood donation (lane 3). The bandingpatterns of WAP after S/D treatment (lane 5) and after S/D treatment+SDRHyperD chromatography resin purification (lane 6) were similar to thatof the starting material (i.e. WAP; lane 4).

These results indicate that the composition of proteins is notsignificantly affected during the above mentioned processing steps.

Example 3 The Effect of LYO I on Cell Proliferation and on theMorphology of the Cells

The following experiment was carried out to examine the biologicaleffect of LYO I (a lyophilized platelet extract prepared from pooledWAP, treated with S/D, subjected to SDR HyperD chromatography resin andlyophilized—prepared as elaborated in Example 1) on fibroblast cellproliferation. The effect of LYO I on cell proliferation was compared tothe effect of WAP.

Cell Proliferation Assay.

For this purpose, 3T3-Swiss albino fibroblast cells (ATCC, Cat numberCCL92) were plated at a concentration of 25×10³ cells/ml (2500cells/well) in tissue culture treated Costar 96-wells plates (CorningLife Science, MA USA) in 100 μl full growth medium [DMEM (BiologicalIndustries, Israel; Cat. number 01-055-1A) containing 4.5 gr/1 glucoseand supplemented with 4 mM glutamine (Biological Industries, Israel;Cat. number 03-020-1B), 10% fetal calf serum (FCS; HyClone, USA; Cat.number SH30070.03), penicillin (100 U/ml)/streptomycin (0.1mg/ml)/amphotericine (0.25 μg/ml) solution (P/S/A; BiologicalIndustries, Israel; Cat. number 03-033-1B)]. The seeded cells wereincubated at 37° C. in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO₂. 24 hours aftercell seeding, the full growth medium was discarded, the wells werewashed twice with 100 μl starvation medium and 100 μl fresh starvationmedium was added into each well [starvation medium: DMEM containing 4.5gr/1 glucose supplemented with 4 mM glutamine, 1% MEM-EAGLEnon-essential amino acids (Biological Industries, Israel; Cat. number01-340-1B, 1% human serum albumin (Plasbumin 25, TalecrisBiotherapeutics, Germany) and P/S/A (in the concentrations listedabove)].

The proliferation was induced 24 hours after replacement of the mediumby adding “pooled WAP” (see preparation above) or reconstituted “LYO I”.LYO I was reconstituted in 0.4 ml starvation medium (5-fold concentratedas compared to the material before lyophilization). Total proteinamounts were determined by using Pierce BCA Protein Assay (see Example2). Concentrations of several growth factors in both WAP I and LYO Iwere detected by ELISA (Quantikine by R&D Systems, MN USA: Human TGF-β1cat DB100B, Human FGF basic cat HSFB00D, Human PDGF-AB cat DHD00B, HumanEGF cat DEG00) and the amounts present in the wells during theproliferation assay are as follows: TGF-β1—205 and 350 ng/ml; bFGF—260and 265 pg/ml; PDGF-AB—75 and 7 ng/ml; and EGF—3 and 3 ng/ml in wellstreated with WAP I and LYO I, respectively.

Proliferation was evaluated 48 hours after addition of addition of WAPor LYO I by using WST-1 Cell Proliferation Reagent according to themanufacturer instructions (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany; Cat.number 11-644-807) which quantifies cell proliferation and cellviability based on mitochondria activity. The plate was incubated for 2hours at 37° C. in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO₂ and then shaken for1 min. The absorbance of the samples was measured at 450 nm against abackground control (starvation medium without cells) as a blank using anELISA reader. Reference values obtained at 650 nm were subtracted fromeach value.

The proliferation rate of 3T3 cells treated with “pooled WAP” or “LYOare shown in FIG. 2. The experiments were carried out in triplicates.Cells grown in starvation medium (marked as “0”) were used as thecontrol [***—p<0.001 (t-test analysis, comparing to “0”].

The results show that cell proliferation rate was significantelyenhanced by the addition of WAP and LYO I compared to control (marked as0).

Cell Morphology.

The effect of LYO I on the morphology of cells was monitored with twodifferent cell line types: Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells(HUVEC; Lonza Switzerland; Cat. number C2519A) which are endothelialstem cells from newborn origin; and 3T3-Swiss albino fibroblast cells.Under certain conditions, for example during the wound healing process,fibroblast cells acquire spindle-like shapes. These shapes are anattribute of the increased motility of the fibroblasts (Park et al.Comparative study on motility of the cultured fetal and neonatal dermalfibroblasts in extracellular matrix. Yonsei Med J. 2001 December;42(6):587-94; Nagano et al. PDGF regulates the actin cytoskeletonthrough hnRNP-K-mediated activation of the ubiquitin E3-ligase MIR. EMBOJ. 2006 May 3; 25(9):1871-82). HUVEC, which are often used to assessinduction of angiogenesis by different substances form vessel-likestructures (Arnaoutova I, Kleinman H K. In vitro angiogenesis:endothelial cell tube formation on gelled basement membrane extract.Nat. Protoc. 2010; 5(4):628-35). These morphological changes areassociated with angiogenesis.

To monitor the effect of LYO I on the morphology of cells, HUVEC or3T3-Swiss albino cells were seeded at a concentration of 25×10³ cells/ml(2500 cells/well) in a 96-wells plate in 100 μl full growth medium [forHUVEC: medium 200 (Gibco Invitrogen, CA USA; Cat. number M200500)supplemented with Low Serum Growth Supplement (LSGS; Gibco Invitrogen,CA USA; Cat. number S00310) and P/S/A solution (in the concentrationmentioned above); for 3T3-Swiss albino cells: as listed in the precedingexperiment]. 24 hours after cell seeding, the full growth medium wasdiscarded, each well was washed twice with 100 μl starvation medium, and100 μl fresh starvation medium was added [for HUVEC: medium 200supplemented with 2% FCS and P/S/A (same concentration as above); for3T3: as listed in the preceding experiment]. 24 hours after the changeto starvation medium, reconstituted LYO I (20 mg/ml total protein inwell; reconstitution was carried out in 0.4 ml appropriate starvationmedium for each cell) was added into the wells. Concentrations of TGF-β,bFGF, PDGF-AB, and EGF in the wells are the same as in the proliferationassay.

In some HUVEC samples additional treatments were carried out: in somesamples addition of 2 IU/ml thrombin (final concentration in the well)(a solution as in the thrombin component of EVICEL™ fibrin sealant,Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.); in some samples addition of fibrinogencomponent diluted 1:16 (final dilution in well; the fibrinogen componentused was the BAC component of EVICEL™ fibrin sealant); in other samplesLYO I+2 IU/ml thrombin (final concentration in the well); and LYOI+diluted fibrinogen component (1:16). All dilutions were carried out instarvation medium. Untreated cells grown in starvation medium were usedas control.

The morphology of the cells was microscopically evaluated 48 hours (3T3;FIG. 3) or 72 hours (HUVEC, FIG. 4) after the different treatments. Eachexperiment was carried out in triplicates.

The results show that untreated 3T3-Swiss albino cells (FIG. 3A)possessed diamond, kite-like shapes (see striped arrows). Addition ofLYO I (FIG. 3B) resulted in formation of spindle-like structures(continuous arrows).

HUVEC untreated cells and thrombin treated cells (FIGS. 4A and C,respectively) possessed diamond-like shapes (striped arrows) whereasaddition of LYO I (FIG. 4B) induced vessel-like structures formation(continuous arrows). In addition, treatment of HUVEC cells with LYO Iand thrombin (FIG. 4D) or LYO I and BAC (FIG. 4F) resulted in anincreased vessel-like structures formation as compared to the othertreatment groups. Treatment with BAC alone (FIG. 4E) resulted in a minoreffect (a few vessel-like structures were formed).

Example 4 Lyophilized Platelet Extract Prepared from Pooled WAP, Treatedwith S/D, Pasteurized, and Sterile Filtrated

Human blood-derived products may carry a risk of transmitting infectiousagents such as viruses. Several measures are usually taken in order tominimize the risk of viral and/or unknown pathogens transmissionincluding routine testing donated samples for the presence of certainviruses, and viral inactivation/removal steps during the manufactureprocess. Effective reduction of viral transmission risk can be achievedby including at least two orthogonal viral inactivation steps that donot alter the beneficial properties of the product. Lipid-envelopedviruses such as HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and West Nile virus arequickly and efficiently inactivated by the S/D treatment which destroysthe lipid membrane of the viruses.

Pasteurization is a process by which heat destroys both lipid-envelopedand non-enveloped viruses. Nanofiltration is a process by whichlipid-enveloped and non-enveloped viruses are excluded from the sampleby using special nanometer-scale filters.

In the following examples the ability of using pasteurization as thesecond viral inactivation step was assessed.

A pool of WAP material was prepared and S/D treated as elaborated inExample 1 except that: 1) Three WAP bags were used (a total volume of600 ml). 2) A sample of 430 ml was removed and treated with S/D and therest 170 ml were frozen at −80° C. for later analysis (“pooled WAP II”).3) HSA was added into the sample at a final concentration of 1% v/v (andnot 5% HSA as in LYO I). 4) The 500 ml [430 ml sample+70 mlacetate-glycine buffer (200 mM sodium acetate; and 100 mM glycine)]sample was transferred to a stainless steel beaker and placed in a waterbath set to 25° C. (not 4° C. as in Example 1). 5) Following addition ofTriton X-100 and TnBP the sample was continuously stirred for 2 hours at25° C. (Triton X-100 and TnBP were added for a shorter period of time inthis experiment, 2 hours vs. 4 hours in Example 1 since S/D treatmentwas carried out at a higher temperature 25° C. vs. 4° C. in Example 1).6) S/D removal was performed using XK26/40 liquid chromatography columnpacked with 80 ml of SDR HyperD solvent-detergent removal chromatographyresin in conjunction with a BT300-2J peristaltic pump (MRC, Israel) anda UA-6 UV/VIS detector+Type 11 recorder (ISCO, NE, USA) at a constantflow rate of 10 ml/min. The column was prepared with 320 ml of ddH₂Ofollowed by equilibration with 240 ml of acetate-glycine buffer (20 mMsodium acetate, 10 mM glycine at pH 6.8-7.4) containing 1% HSA v/v (not5%). 7) After loading the sample (450 ml), the column was washed with144 ml acetate-glycine buffer (20 mM sodium acetate, 10 mM glycine, pH6.8-7.4+1% HSA v/v, followed by 144 ml ddH₂O. 8) D-mannitol was notadded into the flow through material. Next, the flow through S/D treatedmaterial (i.e. unbound fraction and washing buffer) (610 ml) wassubjected to a step of stabilization and pasteurization as follows: onegram sucrose per gram of flow through sample was slowly added into theflow through material while mixing (at about 22° C.) until the sucrosewas completely dissolved. Then, the solution was warmed to 37±1° C. and0.11 g glycine per g of flow through material was slowly added into thesolution while mixing and adjusting the pH to 6.8-7.4 using 0.5N NaOH.pH adjustment was carried out until the glycine was completelydissolved. This was followed by a gradual addition of 0.8 g sucrose perg flow through material while mixing at 37° C. until completelydissolved. Sucrose and glycine were added into the solution to serve asstabilizers during the pasteurization step. The solution was thenpasteurized by heat treatment at 60° C. for 10 hours with constantmixing (50 RPM). In order to transfer the resulting viscous solution(which was formed as a result of the stabilizers addition) into a cleanvessel, it was diluted with acetate-glycine buffer (20 mM sodiumacetate, and 10 mM glycine at pH 6.8-7.4) up to a total volume of 1830ml. The stabilizers were removed from the solution by diafiltrationagainst acetate-glycine buffer (20 mM sodium acetate, 10 mM glycine, pH6.8-7.4) using Filtron Ultrafiltration System with 2 Omega Minisette 10kDa cassettes (Pall Corp, Port Washington, N.Y., USA). The diafiltrationstep was carried out as follows: the sample was first concentrated to avolume of 900 ml, and dialysis was carried out against a total volume of5,400 ml acetate-glycine buffer (20 mM sodium acetate, 10 mM glycine, pH6.8-7.4) by a gradual addition of the buffer and keeping the solutionvolume at 900±100 ml. The dialyzed solution was then concentrated to 400ml.

In order to remove aggregated material, the solution was sequentiallyfiltered through 5 and 1.2 μm Sartopure PP2 filters (Cat. Numbers5591342P5, 5591303P5), followed by 0.45 μm Sartopore 2 filter (SartoriusStedim Biotech S.A., Aubagne, France; Cat. Number 5441306G5). Sterilefiltration was carried out under aseptic conditions (inside a biologicalsterile cabinet) using a 0.2 μm Sartopore 2 filter (Sartorius StedimBiotech S.A., Aubagne, France; Cat. Number 5441307H5). The solution wasthen aliquoted (4 ml) into autoclaved glass vials, lyophilized andsealed with autoclaved rubber stoppers under nitrogen atmosphere and inpartial vacuum (0.6 Bar) as indicated in Example 1. The lyophilizedplatelet extract prepared above is referred herein as “LYO II”.

The preparation of LYO II included S/D treatment, a pasteurization step,and final sterile filtration through 0.2 μm.

Example 5 The Effect of LYO II on Cell Proliferation and on CellMorphology

The following experiment was aimed to determine the effect of LYO II (alyophilized platelet extract prepared from pooled WAP, treated with S/D,subjected to SDR HyperD chromatography resin, pasteurized, sterilefiltrated and lyophilized) on cell proliferation. Cell seedingconcentrations and full growth medium replacement were carried out as inExample 3 in two different cell lines: HUVEC and 3T3-Swiss albino (thecompatible full growth medium and starvation medium was used for eachcell type; see components of medium above; 2500 cells per well in 100 μlmedium).

In 3T3-Swiss albino cells, the proliferation was induced 24 hours afterreplacement of the medium by the addition of pooled WAP II orreconstituted LYO II (the LYO II, which was lyophilized from a 4 mlsolution, was reconstituted in 0.5 ml sterile purified water-8-timesconcentrated as compared to pooled WAP II). Following reconstitution ofLYO II, both LYO II and pooled WAP II were serially diluted 5-fold inthe compatible starvation medium (the starting concentration of pooledWAP II was designated as 1 accordingly relative concentrations of 1,0.2, 0.04, 0.008, 0.0016, 0.00032 were used; the starting concentrationof LYO II was designated as 8 (this concentration was not tested in thisexperiment) and accordingly relative concentrations of 1.6, 0.32, 0.064,0.0128, 0.00256 were used). 10 μl were added from each dilution into thewell (initial plating concentration of 2500 cells; and 100 μl medium).Concentrations of several growth factors in both WAP II and LYO II weredetected by ELISA (Quantikine by R&D Systems, MN USA: Human PDGF-AB catDHD00B, Human VEGF cat DVE00) and the actual concentrations that werepresent in the wells (in the highest concentration) during theproliferation assay are as follows: bFGF—120 and 280 pg/ml; VEGF—0.75and 2.7 ng/ml; and PDGF-AB—80 and 36 ng/ml in wells treated with WAP IIand LYO II, respectively.

The proliferation level of 3T3-Swiss albino cells was evaluated 48 hourslater by using the WST-1 Cell Proliferation Reagent. The plate wasincubated for 4 hours at 37° C. in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO₂. Atthe end of the incubation period, the plate was shaken for 1 min and theabsorbance of the samples was measured as elaborated in Example 3. TheOD values obtained for un-treated cells were subtracted from theobtained OD results and the calculated values were plotted as asigmoidal dose-response curve. R² fit and median effective concentration(EC50) values were calculated using GraphPad Prism software. Theproliferative effect of LYO II or pooled WAP II on 3T3-Swiss albinofibroblast cells are shown in FIG. 5. The experiment was carried out intriplicates.

The results show that the proliferative effect of LYO II on 3T3-Swissalbino is similar to that of the starting material (pooled WAP II).These results demonstrate that the production process of LYO II, whichincluded double-step viral inactivation, does not affect its potencycompared to the WAP starting material e.g. EC50 values were 0.018 and0.013 for pooled WAP II and LYO II, respectively.

For HUVEC, the proliferation was induced 24 hours after mediumreplacement by different treatments: addition of thrombin (T; 1 IU/mlfinal concentration in the well; a thrombin component from EVICEL™fibrin sealant, Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.) with or withoutreconstituted LYO II; and addition of reconstituted LYO II. Untreatedcells were used as reference (marked as 0). 10 μl of each solutiontreatment was added into each well

Reconstitution of LYO II, which was lyophilized from a 4 ml solution,was carried out in 0.5 ml sterile purified water-8-times concentrated.

Concentrations of bFGF, VEGF, and PDGF-AB were as in the proliferationassay carried out in the 3T3-cells.

Measurements of the proliferation level were carried out 72 hours afterthe initiation of the treatment by the WST-1 Cell Proliferation Reagent.At the end of the incubation period (4 hours), the plates were shakenfor 1 min and the absorbance of the samples was measured as indicatedabove. The measurements were carried out in duplicates. A thirdreplicate was stained with Calcein-AM in order to explore the angiogenicpotency of LYO II (see the results below “Vessel-like structuresformation in HUVEC”).

HUVEC proliferation rate following induction with LYO II, thrombin, andthrombin+LYO II are shown in FIG. 6.

The results show that the addition of LYO II to HUVEC resulted in asignificantly higher proliferation as compared to the control cells (“0”without LYO II) or to the cells treated with thrombin alone. Addition ofLYO II+thrombin (T) resulted in a more pronounced proliferative activityas compared to the addition of LYO II alone. Vessel-like structureformation in HUVEC.

The following experiment was carried out as a positive control toobserve the vessel-like structures acquired by HUVEC when grown on aBasement Membrane Extract (BME) coating in HUVEC starvation medium. BMEhas an essential role in tissue organization that affects cell adhesion,migration, proliferation, and differentiation and growing of cells(Mehta V B, Besner G E. HB-EGF promotes angiogenesis in endothelialcells via PI3-kinase and MAPK signaling pathways. Growth Factors. 2007August; 25(4):253-63; Arnaoutova I, Kleinman H K. 2010). Cells grown oncollagen coated wells in HUVEC starvation medium were used as a negativecontrol.

To obtain positive control images, HUVEC cells were plated at aconcentration of 1×10⁵ cells/ml (10000 cells/well) in a 96-well plate in100 μl HUVEC full growth medium (as listed above). The seeded cells wereincubated at 37° C. in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO₂. 24 hours laterthe full growth medium was discarded and 100 μl fresh starvation mediumwas added into each well (see components of the medium Example 3 above).Prior to cell seeding, the wells were coated with 50 μl/well BasementMembrane Extract reduced growth factors (BME; Cultrex, Trevigen Inc.,MD, USA; Cat. Number 3433-005-001) according the manufacturer's protocolor with 50 μl/well bovine collagen I in a concentration of 3 mg/ml(Invitrogen, CA, USA, Cat. Number A10644-01 prepared according to themanufacturer's protocol for gelling procedures).

After an incubation period of 24 hours, the cells were stained by adding5 μM for 30 min at 37° C. and a representative picture was taken usingAxiovert 200 microscope (at a magnification of ×100) and a fluorescencefilter for 530 nm (Carl Zeiss Microlmaging, NY, USA). Calcein-AM is afluorescent dye which is used in biology for testing cell viability andfor short-term labeling of cells—after transport into the cells,intracellular esterases (present in viable cells) remove theacetomethoxy group, the molecule gets trapped inside and gives a stronggreen fluorescence. As dead cells lack active esterases, only live cellsare labeled. The results are presented in FIG. 7.

The results show that pronounced tubular structures which reflectpotential of angiogenesis were detected on the BME coated surfaces. Notubulogenesis were observed on collagen coatings (data not shown).

In order to explore the capability of LYO II to induce angiogenesis, thethird replicate from the previous experiment (cell proliferationexperiment in Example 5) was stained with 5 μM Calcein-AM as above andrepresentative pictures were taken using Axiovert 200 microscope (×200magnification) and a fluorescence filter for 530 nm. The vessel-likestructures acquired by HUVEC following treatment with LYO II are shownin FIG. 8.

It can be seen that addition of reconstituted LYO II (8B) resulted ininitiation of formation of tubular structures similar to the positivecontrol treatment (HUVEC seeded on BME coating; FIG. 7).

To explore the ability of LYO II to induce cell morphology changes whichmight be correlated with induced cell motility, an experiment wascarried out in 3T3-Swiss albino cells in similar conditions as inExample 5 cell proliferation assay (compatible full growth andstarvation media were used). It was observed that LYO II and pooled WAPII induced morphological changes (form diamond like to spindle-likeshapes) as compared to untreated cells (data not shown).

In another experiment, the ability of LYO II to induce vessel-likestructures in the presence of fibrin sealant or fibrinogen wasevaluated. Fibrin sealant comprises components of the extracellularmatrix e.g. fibronectin and fibrinogen (Bar et al. “The binding offibrin sealant to collagen is influenced by the method of purificationand the cross-linked fibrinogen-fibronectin (heteronectin) content ofthe ‘fibrinogen’ component”. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 2005;16:111-117). Addition of the fibrin sealant was carried out in order tocreate environmental conditions which resemble an in-vivo setting. Forthis purpose, HUVEC were seeded at a concentration of 1×10⁵ cells/ml(10000 cells/well) in tissue pre-coated (with fibrinogen or fibrin—seeprocedure below) culture treated Costar 96-well plates in 100 μl fullmedium. 24 hours later the medium was discarded and 100 μl starvationmedium was added (the medium comprises the components listed above).Fibrinogen or fibrin pre-coatings were formed as follows:

-   -   a. 50 μl fibrinogen component (of EVICEL™ fibrin sealant; Omrix        biopharmaceuticals Ltd. diluted to 4 mg/ml with HUVEC starvation        medium) was added into each well. The plate was incubated for 1        hour at 37° C., the solution was aspirated and the wells were        washed twice with PBS.    -   b. 50 μl/well fibrin formed from 25 μl fibrinogen component        (EVICEL™ fibrin sealant diluted to 8 mg/ml with HUVEC starvation        medium), and 25 μl thrombin component (of EVICEL™ fibrin sealant        diluted to 2 IU/ml with HUVEC starvation medium).

After the coating solution was applied into the wells, the plate wasincubated for 1 hour at 37° C. Then, the solution was aspirated and thewells were washed twice with PBS. Then, the cells were seeded in theconditions listed above (10000 cells/well in 100 μl full growth medium).24 hours after cell seeding the medium was replaced with 100 μlstarvation medium. 24 hours after changing the medium, 10 μl of pooledWAP II or reconstituted LYO II (in 2 ml sterile water i.e. concentrated2-fold relative to the volume of the WAP starting material) were addedinto the well. Concentrations of several growth factors in both WAP IIand LYO II were as follows: bFGF—480 and 1120 pg/ml; VEGF—3 and 10.8ng/ml; and PDGF-AB—320 and 144 ng/ml in wells treated with WAP II andLYO II, respectively.

The cells were stained with Calcein-AM as above and representativepictures were taken at 100-fold magnification. The results are presentedin FIG. 9.

It is apparent that fibrinogen or fibrin coated surfaces wereinsufficient to induce pronounced morphological changes that wouldresult in tubulogenesis. However, addition of either LYO II or pooledWAP II together with the fibrinogen or fibrin coatings promoted tubularstructure formation.

Example 6 Lyophilized Platelet Extract Prepared from Pooled WashedAphaeresis Platelets Leukocyte Reduced (WAP) Treated with S/D,Pasteurized, Sterile Filtrated and Concentrated

A pool of WAP material S/D and heat treated was prepared as in Example 4except that: 1) Ten WAP bags were used (a total volume of 2000 ml); 2) Asample of 1720 ml was removed to be treated with S/D and the rest 280 mlwas frozen at −80° C. for later analysis (“pooled WAP III”); 3) HSA wasadded to a final concentration of 1% HSA v/v in the sample; 4) S/Dremoval was performed using XK50 liquid chromatography column packedwith 295 ml of SDR HyperD solvent-detergent removal chromatography resinin conjunction with a peristaltic pump and a UA-6 UV/VIS detector+Type11 recorder at a constant flow rate of 40 ml/min; 5) The volume of theflow through collected material was 2700 ml; 6) In order to transfer theviscous solution following stabilization and pasteurization, thesolution was diluted with acetate-glycine buffer (20 mM sodium acetate;and 100 mM glycine) up to a total volume of 8600 ml; 7) Diafiltrationwas carried out using Centramate PE tangential flow filtration membranecassette holder+4 Omega Centramate 10 kDa ultrafiltration cassettes(Pall Corp, Port Washington, N.Y., USA) by first concentrating thesample to a volume of 3500 ml (from a volume of 8600 ml) and thendialyzing against a total volume of 10,320 ml acetate-glycine buffer (asabove) by a gradual addition of buffer and keeping the volume at 3500ml±200 ml. The dialyzed sample was then concentrated to 450ml—approximately 25% of the staring volume; see point 2 above wherein asample of 1720 ml was removed to be treated with S/D; 8) theconcentrated-dialyzed solution was sequentially filtered through 20, 5and 1.2 μm Sartopure PP2 filters, followed by 0.45 μm Sartopore 2 filterto remove aggregated material (and not only through 5 and 1.2 μm,followed by 0.45 μm). A sterile filtration was carried out through 0.2μm. The filtered sample was then aliquoted (4 ml) and lyophilized asdescribed above. The lyophilized platelet extract prepared above isreferred herein as “LYO III”.

As in LYO II, the viral purification step of LYO III included S/Dtreatment, an additional pasteurization step, and a final sterilefiltration. During the dialysis step the volume of the dialyzed solutionwas concentrated 4 times as compared to the starting volume.

Example 7 Concentration of Plasma Proteins in Lyophilized PlateletExtract Prepared From Pooled Washed Aphaeresis Platelets LeukocyteReduced (WAP) Treated with S/D, Pasteurized and Concentrated (“LYO III”)

The concentration of various plasma proteins, including proteinsinvolved in blood coagulation, was measured in pooled WAP III and in LYOIII.

Reconstitution of LYO III was carried out in ddH₂O in the volume priorto lyophilization (4 ml).

The concentration of the different proteins was evaluated as follows:

Thrombin clotting activity was measured by a modification of theEuropean Pharmacopeia Assay (0903/1997) procedure. A calibration curveof log clotting times vs. log thrombin concentration was plotted bymixing thrombin standard (Omrix, Israel) with a fibrinogen solution of0.1% (Enzyme Research Laboratories, IN, USA) using STart4 CoagulationInstrument (Diagnostica Stago, Asnieres sur Seine, France). Thrombinactivity in the different samples was calculated by the clotting timeobtained (calculated automatically by a clotting machine, interpolatedfrom the calibration curve and later multiplied by the dilution factor.

Quantitation of active fibrinogen was assessed according to the modifiedEuropean Pharmacopeia Assay 0903/1997, which is based on the Claussmethod. Clotting time was measured using STart4 Coagulation Instrument(Diagnostica Stago, Asnières sur Seine, France). In this method, acalibration curve is prepared with fibrinogen (Enzyme ResearchLaboratories, IN, USA) in the presence of excess of thrombin and thenthe fibrinogen concentration of the samples is calculated from thecalibration curve.

Total fibrinogen was measured using a commercial ELISA kit (by MDBiosciences, Zurich, Switzerland; Cat. Number HFIBKT) according to themanufacturer instructions.

Quantification of fibronectin was carried out using a commercial ELISAkit (Technoclone Cat. Number TC12030).

Quantitation of Von Willebrand factor (vWF) was carried out by an ELISAassay. The following antibodies were used for the assay polyclonalrabbit anti human vWF antibody (DAKO; Cat. Number A0082), and polyclonalrabbit anti-human vWF HRP conjugate antibody. A standard curve wasprepared using Unicalibrator (Diagnostica Stago; Cat. Number 00625).

Quantities of factors II, VII, VIII, IX, X and XI were determined usingSTart4 Coagulation Instrument with the following reagents purchased fromDiagnostica Stago, Asnieres sur Seine, France: STA-Deficient II (Cat.Number 00745), STA-Deficient VII (Cat. Number 00743), STA-Deficient VIII(Cat. Number 0725), STA-Deficient IX (Cat. Number 00724), STA-DeficientX (Cat. Number 00738) and STA-Deficient XI (Cat. Number 00723). Allreagents were used according to the manufacturer instructions.

IgG concentration was measured using western blot, a semi-quantitativeanalysis, with alkaline phosphatase-conjugated AffiniPure GoatAnti-Human IgG (H+L) (Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories Inc., PA, USA;Cat. Nounber 109-055-088). The IgG concentration in the samples wascalculated from a calibration curve made with Human IgG BRP Ph. Eur.Reference Standard.

TABLE 2 Concentrations of various plasma proteins in platelet startingmaterial (pooled WAP III) and LYO III. Proteins pooled WAP III LYO IIIThrombin (clotting time) IU/ml <0.25* <0.25* Fibrinogen (clotting time)mg/ml <0.08* <0.08* Fibrinogen (mg/ml) 0.13 0.034 Fibronectin (mg/ml)0.001 0.004 von Willebrand factor (IU/ml) <0.0625* <0.0625* Factor II(IU/ml) <0.003* <0.003* Factor VII (IU/ml) 0.008 0.009 Factor VIII(IU/ml) <0.2* <0.2* Factor IX (IU/ml) <0.0038* <0.0038* Factor X (IU/ml)0.003 0.003 Factor XI (IU/ml) 0.0045 <0.0028* IgG (mg/ml) 0.011 0.076*Value refers to the limit of detection, therefore the sample isconsidered to be depleted of these proteins.

The results presented in Table 2 show that both pooled WAP III and LYOIII comprise very low amounts of plasma proteins. The marginal levels orcomplete absence of clotting proteins in LYO III renders the plateletextract non-clottable. In comparison, a platelet extract preparedaccording to Burnouf (WO 2009/087560) contains a high concentration ofcoagulation factors. LYO III and pooled WAP III comprise less than 0.08mg/ml active fibrinogen.

Example 8 The Effect of LYO III on Cell Proliferation in FibroblastCells and on Morphological Changes in HUVEC

The effect of LYO III on cell proliferation was carried out aselaborated in Example 5 using 3T3-Swiss albino cells.

LYO III, which was lyophilized from a 4 ml solution and that wasconcentrated 4-fold compared to the starting WAP volume, wasreconstituted in 0.5 ml of sterile purified water-8-times concentrated(32-fold concentrated compared to starting volume of pooled WAP III).Following reconstitution, pooled WAP III or reconstituted LYO III wereserially diluted 5-fold in the appropriate starvation medium and 10 μlof each dilution was added into a well containing 100 μl starvationmedium. The starting concentration of pooled WAP III was designated as 1and the serial dilutions were calculated accordingly. The startingconcentration of LYO III was designated as 32 and the serial dilutionswere calculated accordingly. Concentrations of several growth factors inboth WAP III and LYO III were detected by ELISA (Quantikine by R&DSystems, MN USA: Human TGF-β1 cat DB100B, Human FGF basic cat HSFB00D,Human VEGF cat DVE00, Human PDGF-AB cat DHD00B) and the actualconcentrations that were present in the well (in the highestconcentration) during the proliferation assay are as follows: TGF-β1—170 and 4250 ng/ml; bFGF—85 and 540 pg/ml; VEGF—1 and 13 ng/ml; andPDGF-AB—73 and 33 ng/ml in wells treated with WAP III and LYO III,respectively.

As a standard control, a custom mixture of recombinant human growthfactors (referred herein as MasterMix; MM) was prepared with thefollowing components: TGF-β1 200 ng/ml, b-FGF 0.5 ng/ml, VEGF 5 ng/mland PDGF-AB 300 ng/ml (the growth factors were purchased from R&DSystems; Cat. Number Cat. Number 240-B-010/CF, 233-FB-025/CF,293-VE-010/CF and 222-AB-010, respectively). The MM mixture was alsoserially diluted 5-fold in starvation medium and added into the wells(10 μl). The proliferation was evaluated 72 hours after treatmentinitiation by using the WST-1 Cell Proliferation Reagent (cells withoutany additives were used as background and subtracted from OD values). Atthe end of the incubation period (4 hours), the plates were shaken for 1min and the absorbance of the samples was measured as indicated above.The tests were carried out in triplicates. In order to compare thedifferent materials based on a common factor, the obtained results werenormalized (see below) to the concentration of PDGF-AB, a growth factorwhich triggers 3T3 cell proliferation, present in all tested materials.Normalizing to PDGF-AB was carried out by measuring the PDGF-ABconcentration [a commercial ELISA kit (Quantikine, R&D Systems, MN, USA;Cat. Number DHD00B] in the reconstituted LYO III and calculating thePDGF-AB concentration in the relative dilutions. The OD results obtainedby the WST-1 Cell Proliferation Reagent were plotted against thecalculated PDGF-AB concentration values. MasterMix (MM) was used aspositive control. Normalization was done to the PDGF-AB concentration asevaluated by specific ELISA.

Results of the proliferative effect of LYO III or pooled WAP III on3T3-Swiss albino cells are shown in FIG. 10.

The results show that increasing concentrations of LYO III or pooled WAPIII affected the proliferation level of 3T3-Swiss albino fibroblastcells with the effect of LYO III being more pronounced while normalizedto the amount of PDGF-AB present in the samples. Notably, the effect ofboth treatments was even more pronounced than the positive control (MM).

A tube-formation assay was carried out to assess the angiogenic effectof LYO III and to explore for a possible synergistic effect of LYO IIIand fibrin sealant or its components. In order to eliminate any possibleeffects of the additives on attachment of the cells to the platesurface, the cells were first seeded and only then treated with thedifferent additives.

For this purpose, HUVEC were plated at a concentration of 50×10³cells/ml (5000 cells/well) in tissue culture treated Costar 96-wellsplates in 100 μl full growth medium (same components as above). 24 hafter cell seeding, the full medium was discarded, the wells were washedtwice with 100 μl starvation medium, and 100 μl starvation medium wasadded into each well (same components as above).

24 hours after the medium was changed, the assay was initiated by theaddition of 10 μl of either LYO III (reconstituted in 0.5 ml sterilewater—concentrated 32-fold relatively to pooled WAP III volume) or acombination of LYO III and fibrin [formed with 1 IU/ml thrombin (finalconcentration in well) and 11.3 mg/ml (total protein) fibrinogen [boththrombin and fibrinogen are components of EVICEL™ fibrin sealant (OmrixBiopharmaceuticals Ltd.) diluted in starvation medium]. Concentrationsof TGF-β, bFGF, VEGF, and PDGF-AB in the wells were as in theproliferation above.

Cells treated with thrombin and/or fibrinogen in the same concentrationslisted above were used as reference. 48 hours after the differenttreatments, the cells were stained with 5 uM Calcein-AM for 30 min at37° C. and representative pictures were taken using Axiovert 200microscope at 100-fold magnification and fluorescence filter for 530 nm(Zeiss). The results are presented in FIG. 11.

As depicted in the FIG. 11, no tubulogenesis were observed in thecontrol cells (A). Also, it is apparent that thrombin or fibrinogenalone had only marginal ability to induce morphological changes in HUVECas can be evaluated from the very low number of prolonged cells andvessel-like shapes (B and C, respectively). Treatment with fibrin(thrombin and fibrinogen; E) resulted in re-arrangement of the cellstoward tubulogenesis however no pronounced vessel structures weredetected. Addition of LYO III (D) to the HUVEC monolayer promotedtubulogenesis which was further augmented by addition of fibrin (F).

Example 9 Lyophilized Platelet Extract Prepared from Pooled WashedAphaeresis Platelets Leukocyte Reduced (WAP), Treated with S/D Under LowAggregate Conditions, Pasteurized and Concentrated

In this experiment a lyophilized platelet extract was prepared from afrozen material, before thawing as follows: Ten WAP bags wereindividually weighed, wiped with 70% ethanol, cut open and the frozenmaterial was placed in a large beaker that was immersed in a water bathadjusted to 25° C. The empty bag was weighed and the weight differencebetween the empty bags and the full bags was used to calculate the netWAP weight (the net WAP weight of each bag was about 200 g). The pooledmaterial was mixed slowly at 25° C. until completely thawed using astainless steel propeller connected to an RW20 overhead stirrer(IKA-Werke GmbH & Co., Staufen, Germany) at 20 RPM. The osmolarity ofthe pooled WAP was 275 mOs [measured by using The Advanced™ MicroOsmometer Model 3300 (Advanced Instruments Inc, Norwood, Mass., USA)].10% acetate-glycine buffer (200 mM sodium acetate, 100 mM glycine; at pH6.8-7.4) and 1% HSA (v/v from the final volume solution) were added intothe pooled WAP. In order to keep the osmolarity level as constant aspossible throughout the process, buffer osmolarity was adjusted to thatof the WAP starting material using NaCl (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.,USA). In the next step, S/D treatment was carried out by slowly adding1% Triton X-100 and 0.3% TnBP (v/v) into the pooled sample while mixingat 50 RPM. In order to avoid sub-optimal viral inactivation due to thepossible presence of particulate matter, the S/D treatment was splitinto two parts. First, the sample was continuously stirred for 30minutes and then filtered through 20, 5 and 1.2 μm Sartopure PP2 filtersand 0.45 μm Sartopore 2 (Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A., Aubagne,France). Then, the filtered material was returned to a beaker immersedin a water bath adjusted to 25° C. and mixed at 50 RPM for additional 2hours for continuing the viral inactivation process. S/D removal wascarried out using XK50 liquid chromatography column packed with 295 mlSDR HyperD solvent-detergent removal chromatography resin (Pall Corp) inconjunction with a peristaltic pump and a UA-6 UV/VIS detector+Type 11recorder (ISCO, NE, USA). 1800 ml of S/D-treated platelet extract wereloaded onto the column followed by washing with 540 ml acetate glycinebuffer (200 mM sodium acetate, 100 mM glycine; at pH 6.8-7.4)+1% HSAv/v. A total volume of 2700 ml was collected from the column (flowthrough). It was found that water-insoluble aggregates, which mayinterfere with later stages of the production, are formed during themanufacturing process. It was also found that the aggregation isintensified in the presence of calcium. Thus, it was decided to usecalcium to facilitate the precipitation of aggregates at an early stage,followed by removal of these aggregates by clarification filtration.Accordingly, CaCl₂ was slowly added (to 40 mM final concentration) tothe extract following S/D removal procedure and the extract wasincubated for 30 minutes at 25° C. while mixing at 50 RPM. The productwas then filtered using 20, 5 and 1.2 μm Sartopure PP2 filters and 0.45μm Sartopore 2 (Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A., Aubagne, France). In thenext step, the extract was subjected to stabilization and pasteurizationas in Example 4. In order to transfer the obtained viscous solution intoa clean vessel, it was diluted with acetate-glycine buffer (at a finalconcentration of 20 mM sodium acetate, 10 mM glycine in the viscoussolution; at pH 6.8-7.4) and 1% HSA v/v up to a total weight of 11,320ml. Removal of the stabilizers was carried out by diafiltration againstacetate-glycine buffer (as above) using Centramate PE tangential flowfiltration membrane cassette holder+4 Omega Centramate 10 kDaultrafiltration cassettes (Pall). The diafiltration was carried out asfollows: the extract was first concentrated to a volume of 3600 ml andthen dialysis was carried out against a total volume of 10,800 mlacetate-glycine buffer (as above) by a gradual addition of the bufferand keeping the solution volume at 3600±200 ml. The dialyzed solutionwas then concentrated to a volume of 473 ml, which is approximately 25%of the starting volume.

For stabilization, Mannitol was added into the solution at a finalconcentration of 2% w/w. In order to remove aggregated material, thesample was sequentially filtered through 20, 5 and 1.2 μm Sartopure PP2filters, and 0.45 μm Sartopore 2 filter. Sterile filtration was carriedout under aseptic conditions using a 0.2 μm Sartopore 2 filter. Theproduct was then aliquot into 4 ml portions under aseptic conditions andlyophilized as elaborated above. The lyophilized material was sealed innitrogen atmosphere in partial vacuum (0.6 Bar). The lyophilizedplatelet extract prepared above is referred herein as “LYO IV”.

The viral purification step of LYO IV included S/D treatment whichincluded a filtration sub step within the SD treatment. Filtration atthis step was carried out through 20, 5, 1.2 and 0.45 μm filters. Inaddition, a pasteurization step was carried out, and a final sterilefiltration. During the dialysis step the volume of the dialyzed solutionwas concentrated 4 times as compared to the starting volume.

Example 10 The Effect of LYO IV on Cell Proliferation and MorphologicalChanges in Fibroblast Cells and on Morphological Changes in Huvec

The effect of LYO IV on cell proliferation was carried out as elaboratedin Example 5. 3T3-Swiss albino cells were plated at a concentration of25×10³ cells/ml (2500 cells/well) in tissue culture treated Costar96-wells plates in full growth medium (components as elaborated above).24 h after cell seeding, the full growth medium was replaced with freshstarvation medium (as above). The proliferation was induced 24 hoursafter the medium was replaced by the addition of pooled WAP IV orreconstituted LYO IV. Reconstitution was carried out as follows: LYO IV,which was lyophilized from a 4 ml solution (concentrated 4-foldcomparing to starting pooled WAP), was reconstituted in 0.5 ml sterilepurified water-8-times concentrated (32-fold concentrated compared tothe starting volume pooled WAP IV). Following reconstitution,reconstituted LYO IV or pooled WAP IV were serially diluted 5-fold inthe appropriate starvation medium and 10 μl of each dilution was addedinto a well containing 100 μl starvation medium. The startingconcentration of pooled WAP IV was designated as 1 and the serialdilutions were calculated accordingly (relative concentration). Thestarting concentration of LYO IV was designated as 32 and the serialdilutions were calculated accordingly. Concentrations of several growthfactors in both WAP IV and LYO IV were detected by ELISA (same kits asabove) and the actual concentrations present in the well (in the highestconcentration) during the proliferation assay are as follows: TGF-β—230and 2000 ng/ml; bFGF—100 and 170 pg/ml; VEGF—1.25 and 8.1 ng/ml;PDGF-AB—57 and 27 ng/ml; and Thrombospondin-1—60 and 330 ng/ml in wellstreated with WAP IV and LYO IV, respectively.

MasterMix (MM) prepared as in Example 8 was used as positive control.This mixture was serially diluted 5-fold in starvation medium and 10 μlwas added into the wells. The maximal concentration of MM was designatedas 30 (since the concentration of PDGF-AB in MM was 30 ng/ml) and theserial dilutions were calculated accordingly.

The proliferation of the cells was evaluated 48 hours after beginning ofthe treatment as elaborated above. After 4 hours incubation with WST-1,the absorbance of the samples was measured as indicated above. Theobtained results were normalized to the PDGF-AB (as explained above).All the tests were done in triplicates. The results are presents in FIG.12.

The results show that LYO IV and pooled WAP IV had a similar effect on3T3-Swiss albino fibroblasts proliferation level. The obtained effectwas even more pronounced than the positive control (MM).

To evaluate the effect of LYO IV on morphological changes of 3T3-Swissalbino cells, phase-contrast microscope images were taken following thetreatments (the cells were seeded as in the proliferation assay inExample 10, treated with 10 μl of reconstituted LYO IV (in 0.5 mlsterile water), pooled WAP IV and maximal concentration of MM (as inExample 8) added to 100 μl of starvation medium and the images weretaken 2 days following the treatment). Concentrations of TGF-β, bFGF,VEGF, PDGF-AB, and Thrombospondin-1 in the wells were as in theproliferation assay. Representative images are shown in FIG. 13.

Untreated fibroblast cells possess diamond-like shapes (FIG. 13A).Addition of LYO IV (B) to 3T3-Swiss albino fibroblasts promotedmorphological changes of the cells from diamond-like cells tospindle-like shapes, a characteristic of motile fibroblasts. Theseobserved morphological changes were stronger than the changes observedfollowing treatment with pooled WAP IV (C) and the positive control (MM;D).

As indicated above, the spindle-like shapes of 3T3 fibroblast cells arean attribute of the motility potential. In the following experiment theactual motility of the cells was evaluated following treatment with LYOIV by using the wound-scratch migration assay (Liang et al. In vitroscratch assay: a convenient and inexpensive method for analysis of cellmigration in vitro. Nat. Protoc. 2007; 2(2):329-33). 3T3-Swiss albinocells were plated at a concentration of 1×10⁵ cells/ml (50,000cells/well) in tissue culture treated Costar 24-wells plates (CorningLife Science, MA USA) in 0.5 ml full growth medium (as above). Prior toseeding, the well was coated with one of the following:

-   -   1. Collagen coating—12.5 μg/cm² from a collagen solution        (Collagen I, Bovine, 5 mg/ml, Invitrogen, CA, USA, Cat. Number        A10644-01, prepared according to the manufacturer's protocol for        thin coating procedures a dilution of 50 μg/ml in 10 mM Acetic        Acid was used). The coating was applied according to the        manufacturer's protocol.    -   2. Fibrinogen coating—250 μg/cm² from the fibrinogen component        of EVICEL™ fibrin sealant (Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.)        diluted with DMEM medium to 1 mg/ml fibrinogen. After 1 hour        incubation at room temperature, the solution was aspirated and        the wells were washed with fresh DMEM.

Uncoated wells were used as control. 6 hours after cell seeding, thefull growth medium was discarded, the wells were washed twice with 0.5ml starvation medium and 0.5 ml fresh starvation medium was added intoeach well (as above). After over-night starvation the cell monolayer waswounded in the middle of the well with a p200 plastic pipette tip, thedetached cells were washed out together with the starvation medium and0.5 ml fresh starvation medium was added. Migration of the cells (i.e.motility) was evaluated following addition of either pooled WAP IV,reconstituted LYO IV (in 2 ml of sterile water), or PRP-R(PRP-releasate) [prepared as follows: 60 ml of single-donor PRP(prepared by and obtained from MDA, Blood Bank, Israel) were activatedwith 3 ml of 1000 IU/ml Thrombin (from EVICEL™) and 2 ml of 2M CaCl₂,and then centrifuged at 3000 g for 10 min at 4° C. resulting in 27 mlsupernatant which was used for the experiment]. All treatment solutionswere diluted 1:10 into the well (50 μl). Each treatment was carried outin duplicates.

Concentrations of several growth factors in both WAP IV and LYO IV wereas follows: TGF-β—920 and 8000 ng/ml; bFGF—400 and 680 pg/ml; VEGF—5 and32.4 ng/ml; PDGF-AB—228 and 108 ng/ml; and Thrombospondin-1—240 and 1320ng/ml in the wells (respectively for WAP IV and LYO IV).

The wounded width was captured using phase-contrast microscope (×100magnification) at three different locations in each well (6 pictures pereach treatment) at time point 0 and after 24 hours. In each picture, thewounded width was measured 5 times (15 times per well) and the woundclosure (a narrower wound width) was calculated as a percentage of woundleft 24 hours after initiation of the treatment in the same location.

Representative phase-contrast pictures of the wounded width in thedifferent treatments at the different time points are shown in FIG. 14.Quantitative evaluation of the wound closure as a percentage left 24hours after initiation of the treatment in the different treatmentgroups are shown in FIG. 15. Results are presented as mean of 6replicates±S.D.

The results show that on all surfaces (coated or uncoated wells) LYO IVpromoted fibroblasts motility and closure of the scratch in themonolayer (the wound is narrower than the control reference treatment)in a similar manner as pooled WAP IV and PRP-R (which has been reportedas efficient in wound healing in in-vivo settings Lacci K M, Dardik A,2010).

Collagen coated wells showed a slightly higher motility promoting effectas compared to the fibrinogen coated wells.

Tube-formation assay was carried out to assess the ability of LYO IV toinduce morphological changes of HUVEC. These morphological changes areassociated with angiogenesis. For this purpose, HUVEC were plated at aconcentration of 1×10⁵ cells/ml (10000 cells/well) in tissue culturetreated Costar 96-wells plates in 100 μl starvation medium (as above,excluding 2% FCS). In order to simulate extracellular matrixenvironment, the wells were coated with BME (50 μl/well according themanufacturer protocol) prior to cell seeding.

During seeding, 10 μl of either pooled WAP IV or LYO IV (reconstitutedin 2 ml sterile water, concentrated 8-fold relatively to pooled WAP IVvolume) were added to the designated wells. The concentration of TGF-β,bFGF, VEGF, PDGF-AB, and Thrombospondin-1 in the wells were as in themigration assay above. Untreated HUVEC seeded on BME coating were usedas reference. After 24 h the cells were stained with 5 uM Calcein-AM for30 min at 37° C. and representative pictures were taken using Axiovert200 microscope with 60-fold magnification and fluorescence filter for530 nm (Zeiss). The results are shown in FIG. 16.

As observed in FIG. 16, LYO IV (B) had the strongest tubologenic potencycompared to WAP IV (C) or untreated cells (A) (treatment with LYO IVresulted in vessel-like structure formation).

Example 11 Evaluating the Use of Nanofiltration as a Second ViralInactivation Step

A pool of WAP material was prepared from 10 donors (2000 ml) aselaborated in Example 1. Then, 200 ml acetate-glycine buffer and 1% HSAv/v were added into the pooled WAP. A sample of 50 ml was removed,treated with S/D as elaborated below and stored in—80° C. until assayed.Upon analysis the sample was thawed at room temperature and thenfiltered (to remove any particulate matter) through 0.45 μm syringefilter (Millex-HV by Millipore; Cat. Number SLHV033RS). Only about 25 ml(out of 50 ml) were filtered before the filter was clogged, therefore afresh filter was used for the remainder of the sample. Extracts wereobtained by freezing and thawing and by carrying out an S/D treatment.

After thawing, an S/D removal step was carried out using HR 10×10 liquidchromatography column (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech) packed with 8 ml ofSDR HyperD solvent-detergent removal chromatography resin (Pall Corp.)in conjunction with a peristaltic pump and a UA-6 UV/VIS detector+Type11 recorder (ISCO, NE, USA). The flow parameters used during the processwere: 1 ml/min with a maximum pressure limit of 1.0 bar.

The column was prepared with 32 ml of purified water, followed by 24 mlof acetate glycine buffer including 1% HSA v/v. The column was loadedwith 40 ml of the extract sample. After loading the extract sample, thecolumn was washed first with 14 ml of acetate-glycine buffer including1% HSA v/v. A second washing step was carried out using 22 ml ofacetate-glycine buffer including 10% ethanol/1M NaCl/0.2% HSA. Thelatter washing step was found in our experiments to increase therecovery of some growth factors, e.g. PDGF-AB and PDGF-BB (See Example12). The column was then washed with 16 ml purified water. The totalvolume of the collected flow through was 80 ml. To facilitate theprecipitation of aggregates at an early stage, precipitation with CaCl₂was carried out as described in Example 9. Clarification filtration ofthe extract sample after the CaCl₂ treatment was carried out using 5 μmcapsule filter (mdi Advanced Microdevices), followed by 0.45 μm syringefilter (Millex-HV by Millipore; Cat. Number SLHV033RS).

To remove smaller aggregates, a pre-filtration step was carried outprior to the nanofiltration step by passing the material through 0.2 and0.1 μm filters. In order to filter the entire 80 ml of extract sample,two 0.2 μm vacuum filters (Nalgene Supor Mach V 50 mm) and four 0.1 μmsyringe filters (Millex VV by Millipore; Cat. Number SLVV033RS) wereused. The filtered material was then subjected to a nanofiltration step.The nanofiltration system was assembled in-line as follows: Pressurednitrogen gas tank—pressure regulator—filter housing SEALKLEEN (PallCorp.) with 2.5 bar pressure gauge (PG1)—valve—0.2 μm filter (Minisartby Sartorius; Cat. Number 16534)—0.1 μm filter (Millipore; Cat. NumberVVLP02500)—1.0 bar pressure gauge (PG2)—PLANOVA 75N filter (Asahi Kasei;Cat. Number 75NZ-001)—1.0 bar pressure gauge (PG3)—PLANOVA 35N filter(Asahi Kasei; Cat. Number 35NZ-001)—1.0 bar pressure gauge (PG4)—PLANOVA20N filter (Asahi Kasei; Cat. Number 20NZ-001).

The nanofiltration procedure was carried out as follows:

Prior to loading the extract sample, the performance of the system wastested by filling the filter housing with 40 ml purified water (PuW),and elevating the pressure by increasing the nitrogen gas flow into thesystem. Under normal conditions, the solution is expected to flowthrough the system with only small drops in pressure after passingthrough each PLANOVA filter. As shown in Table 3 below, 40 ml of PuWwere passed through the system without a major drop in the pressure.

After verifying the performance of the system, the filter housing wasfilled with acetate glycine buffer (20 mM sodium acetate, 10 mM glycine;at pH 6.8-7.4) containing 1% HSA (the same buffer that is present in theextract sample). The results in the Table below show that the pressurelevel and the flow rates enabled the buffer to pass through the entiresystem. However, when the extract sample was loaded, it failed to passthroughout the system. As shown in the Table below, the pressure readingbefore the PLANOVA 75N (PG2) was 0.9 bar, whereas the pressure after thePLANOVA 75N and before to the PLANOVA 35N filter (PG3) was only 0.2 bar,indicating that the sample could not easily pass through the PLANOVA 75Nfilter.

TABLE 3 Pressure level and flow rates obtained when subjecting DDW,buffer and the platelet extract to nanofiltration. Passed volume PG1 PG2PG3 PG4 Time Flow (ml) (bar) (bar) (bar) (bar) (min) (ml/min) DDW 40 1.01.0 0.9 0.8 N/A N/A Buffer 0-5 1.0 1.0 0.65 0.45 12 0.4  5-10 0.9 1.00.7 0.4 18 0.27 10-15 0.8 0.9 0.7 0.4 21 0.24 15-20 1.0 1.0 0.75 0.42 240.21 Extract sample 0.9 0.9 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0

These results show that it is not feasible to utilize nanofiltration asa second viral inactivation step using the conditions elaborated above.

Example 12 Lyophilized Platelet Extract Prepared from Pooled WashedAphaeresis Platelets Leukocyte Reduced (WAP), Treated with S/D, S/DRemoved Using SDR HyperD Chromatography Using Elution Conditions,Pasteurized and Concentrated

In this experiment a lyophilized platelet extract was prepared asfollows: Ten WAP bags were individually weighed wiped with 70% ethanol,cut open and the frozen material was placed in a large beaker that wasimmersed in a water bath adjusted to 25° C. The empty bag was weighedand the weight difference between the empty bags and the full bags wasused to calculate the net WAP. Total net weight of pooled WAP was 1947gr. The pooled material was mixed slowly at 25° C. until completelythawed (same stirring condition as in Example 9). The osmolarity of thepooled WAP was 265 mOs. 213 ml acetate-glycine buffer (to a finalconcentration of 20 mM sodium acetate, 10 mM glycine; at pH 6.8-7.4) and1% v/v (from the final volume solution) Human serum albumin (HSA,Talecris USA) were added into the pooled WAP. In order to keep theosmolarity level as constant as possible throughout the process, thebuffer osmolarity was adjusted to that of the WAP starting materialusing NaCl (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo., USA). S/D treatment wascarried out as described previously by slowly adding 1% Triton X-100 and0.3% TnBP (v/v) into the pooled sample while mixing at 50 RPM. In orderto avoid sub-optimal viral inactivation due to the possible presence ofparticulate matter, during the S/D treatment the sample was filtered.Briefly, after S/D addition the sample was continuously stirred for 30minutes and then filtered through 20, 3 and 1.2 μm Sartopure PP2 filtersand 0.45 μm Sartopore 2 (Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A., Aubagne,France). Then, the filtered material was returned to a beaker immersedin a water bath adjusted to 25° C. and mixed at 50 RPM for twoadditional hours for continuing the viral inactivation process.

S/D removal was carried out using XK50 liquid chromatography columnpacked with 295 ml SDR HyperD solvent-detergent removal chromatographyresin (Pall Corp) in conjunction with a peristaltic pump and a UA-6UV/VIS detector+Type 11 recorder (ISCO, NE, USA). 1800 ml of S/D-treatedplatelet extract (which contained 1620 ml of platelet material) wereloaded onto the column followed by washing with 600 ml acetate glycinebuffer+1% HSA. This was followed by elution with 900 ml of acetateglycine buffer containing 10% ethanol, 1M NaCl and 0.2% HSA. The columnwas finally washed with 600 ml of purified water. The unbound and theeluted material were collected. A total volume of 3600 ml was collectedfrom the column. To facilitate the precipitation of aggregates, CaCl₂(40 mM final concentration) was slowly added to the extract followingS/D removal procedure, as previously described, and the extract wasincubated for 30 minutes at 25° C. while mixing at 50 RPM. The productwas filtered using 20 and 3 μm Sartopure PP2 filters and 0.45 μmSartopore 2 (Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A., Aubagne, France). In thenext step, the extract was subjected to stabilization and pasteurizationas in Example 4. Removal of the stabilizers was carried out bydiafiltration against acetate-glycine buffer (as above). The dialyzedsolution was then concentrated to a volume of 530 ml (which isapproximately 29% of the starting volume).

For stabilization, Mannitol was added into the solution at a finalconcentration of 2% w/w. In order to remove aggregated material, thesample was filtered through 3 μm Sartopure PP2 filter and 0.45 μmSartopore 2 filter. Sterile filtration was carried out under asepticconditions using a 0.2 μm Sartopore 2 filter. The obtained product (avolume of 452 ml) was then aliquot into 4 ml portions under asepticconditions and lyophilized as elaborated above. The lyophilized materialwas sealed in nitrogen atmosphere in partial vacuum (0.6 Bar). Thelyophilized platelet extract prepared above is referred herein as “LYOV”.

The viral purification step of LYO V included S/D treatment whichincluded a filtration sub step within the SD treatment. Filtration atthis step was carried out through 20, 3, 1.2 and 0.45 μm filters. TheSDR step included washing the column_using non-isocratic solutions. Thenon-isocratic solution was acetate glycine buffer containing 10%ethanol, 1M NaCl and 0.2% HSA. In addition, a pasteurization step wascarried out, and a final sterile filtration. During the dialysis stepthe volume of the dialyzed solution was concentrated about 3.5 times ascompared to the starting volume.

The PDGF-AB content was measured in the material before loading thesample onto the SDR chromatography resin and after collecting the samplefrom the SDR resin (following solvent and detergent removal) in theproduction process of LYO II-LYO V. The percentage of recovery of thePDGF-AB in the different production processes (LYO II-LYO V) is shown inTable 4. PDGF-AB and bFGF content were measured using a specificcommercial ELISA kit (Quantikine human PDGF-AB immunoassay;Manufacturer: R&D systems; cat. DHD00B, and Quantikine HS human bFGFcat. HSFB00D immunoassays; Manufacturer: R&D systems, respectively).

TABLE 4 Recovery of PDGF-AB and bFGF from SDR column in LYO II-V.PDGF-AB PDGF-AB bFGF bFGF LYO content recovery content recovery NumberStep (ng) (%) (ng) (%) II pre-SDR 24941 52 post-SDR 3942 16 18 35 IIIpre-SDR 101313 160 post-SDR 10807 11 40 25 IV pre-SDR 70609 218 post-SDR9103 13 65 30 V pre-SDR 86983 274 post-SDR 38884 45 102 37

As shown in Table 4, the addition of the elution step with non isocraticsolution in the S/D removal step as described above during processing ofLYO V results in higher recovery of PDGF-AB. The recovery of PDGF-AB was45% with the elution step as compared to 11-16% recovery in the absenceof this step—about 3-fold recovery increase. The concentrations ofPDGF-AB and bFGF were also measured in the final lyophilized materialfollowing reconstitution with 4 ml double distilled water (DDW). Theconcentration of PDGF-AB was 15,028 pg/ml which corresponds to 2.26×10⁻⁶pg PDGF-AB per platelet used as the starting material. The concentrationof bFGF was 36 pg/ml which corresponds to 5.4×10⁻⁹ pg bFGF per plateletused as the starting material.

Example 13 The Effect of LYO V on Cell Proliferation in Fibroblast Cells

The effect of LYO V on cell proliferation was carried out as elaboratedin Example 5 Using 3T3-Swiss Albino Cells.

LYO V, which was lyophilized from a 4 ml solution and that wasconcentrated 4-fold compared to the starting WAP volume, wasreconstituted in 0.5 ml of sterile purified water—8-times concentrated(32-fold concentrated compared to the starting concentration of pooledWAP V). Following reconstitution, pooled WAP V or reconstituted LYO Vwere serially diluted 5-fold in the appropriate starvation medium and 10μl of each dilution was added into a well containing 100 μl starvationmedium. The starting concentration of pooled WAP V was designated as 1and the serial dilutions were calculated accordingly. The startingconcentration of LYO V was designated as 32 and the serial dilutionswere calculated accordingly. As a standard control, a recombinant humanPDGF-AB (R&D Systems; Cat. Number 222-AB-010) was used. The PDGF-AB wasalso serially diluted 5-fold in starvation medium and added into thewells (10 μl). Concentrations of several growth factors in both WAP Vand LYO V were detected by ELISA (same kits as above) and the actualconcentrations present in the well (in the highest concentration) duringthe proliferation assay are as follows: TGF-β—159.4 and 169.8 ng/ml;bFGF 0.1 ng/ml and 0.029 ng/ml; VEGF—0.89 and 1.05 ng/ml; PDGF-AB—56.86and 12 ng/ml in wells treated with WAP V and LYO V, respectively.

The proliferation was evaluated 72 hours after treatment initiation byusing the WST-1 Cell Proliferation Reagent (cells without any additiveswere used as a background and subtracted from OD values). At the end ofthe incubation period (4 hours), the plates were shaken for 1 min andthe absorbance of the samples was measured as indicated above. The testswere carried out in triplicates. The OD results obtained by the WST-1Cell Proliferation Reagent were plotted against the calculated PDGF-ABconcentration values. The results are shown in FIG. 17.

The results show that increasing concentrations of LYO V or pooled WAP Vaffected the proliferation level of 3T3-Swiss albino fibroblast cellswith the effect of LYO V being slightly less pronounced. This apparentreduction was due to the normalization of the results to only one growthfactor (PDGF-AB) that is present in the LYO mixture and the recovery ofwhich was increased significantly comparing to the previous examples.Notably, the effect of both treatments (LYO V and WAP V) was morepronounced than the recombinant PDGF-AB alone, indicating that otherplatelets' extracted components may synergistically enhance fibroblastsproliferation.

Example 14 Comparison of the Manufacturing Steps Carried Out in LYOI-LYO IV Prepared in the Above Examples

Table 5 summarizes the major manufacturing steps carried out in each LYOpreparations.

TABLE 5 Major manufacturing steps carried out in each LYO preparations.Major manufacture process LYO LYO LYO LYO LYO step I II III IV VSolvent-detergent treatment + + + + + Pasteurization (heat viral + + + +inactivation) Concentration + + + Additional aggregate removal + +Elution step added to SDR + column* *Elution was carried out with a nonisocratic solution: acetate glycine buffer (20 mM sodium acetate and 10mM glycine at pH 6.8-7.4) containing 10% ethanol, 1M NaCl and 0.2% HSA.

Example 15 The Level of Aggregate Content in the Platelet ExtractPrepared According to the Invention

Aggregation is undesirable in protein pharmaceuticals because it can notonly compromise biological activity but also increases the chance ofundesirable side effects e.g. immunogenecity. The aggregation may alsodecrease protein stability. In the following example the aggregatecontent was determined in the platelet extracts prepared according tothe invention.

For this purpose, the aggregation level (turbidity) was determined bymeasuring the optical density at 320 nm (OD₃₂₀) (which is typicallyindicative of the presence of aggregates as described in Ultravioletabsorption Spectroscopy, Mach H. et al., in Protein stability andfolding, Ed. Shirley B. A. pp 91-114, 1995, Humana Press, New Jersey)and by subtracting the OD₃₂₀ reading of human serum albumin (HSA) whichis present at high concentrations in the platelet extract and wasconsidered to be a background reading. The normalized turbidity(aggregation) was obtained by dividing the turbidity (absorbance at 320nm for an undiluted solution) by the protein concentration [determinedby Pierce BCA Protein Assay (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Rockford,Ill., USA; Cat. number 23235)] prior to the subtraction.

The aggregate level was calculated according to the following equation:

${\frac{{OD}\; 320\mspace{14mu}{platelets}\mspace{14mu}{extract}}{{mg}\mspace{14mu}{{protein}/{ml}}} - \frac{{OD}\; 320\mspace{14mu}{human}\mspace{14mu}{serum}\mspace{14mu}{albumin}}{{mg}\mspace{14mu}{{protein}/{ml}}}} = {{OD}\; 320\mspace{14mu}{platelet}\mspace{14mu}{extract}\mspace{14mu}{per}\mspace{14mu}{mg}\mspace{14mu}{protein}}$

An obtained calculated OD₃₂₀ level which was lower than ≦0.03 per mgprotein was considered as a low aggregate content.

Different lyophilized platelet extracts prepared according to the aboveexamples (LYO II-V) were reconstituted in DDW (to the same volume asbefore the lyophilization step). In the next step, a sample of 1 ml wastransferred into acryl-cuvettes (Sarstedt, Cat. Number 67.740) and theOD was measured at 320 nm using Ultrospec 2100 pro spectrophotometer(Amersham Pharmacia Biotech). In parallel, the OD level of HSA wasmeasured at 320 nm (in the same parameters as the tested extracts) andthe aggregate level was calculated according to the above equation(different HSA concentrations were used and the reading was divided bythe total protein of the solution as shown in the equation).

It was found that the calculated OD₃₂₀ level of all tested plateletextracts was ≦0.03 per mg protein. Therefore, the platelet extractsprepared according to the invention had low aggregate level.

Example 16 Lyophilized Platelet Extract Prepared from Pooled WashedAphaeresis Platelets Leukocyte Reduced (WAP), Treated with S/D, SDRElution Using Two Steps of Non-Isocratic Solutions, Pasteurized andConcentrated

In this experiment a lyophilized platelet extract was prepared asfollows: Ten WAP bags were individually weighed wiped with 70% ethanol,cut open and the frozen material was placed in a large beaker that wasimmersed in a water bath adjusted to 25° C. The empty bag was weighedand the weight difference between the empty bags and the full bags wasused to calculate the net WAP weight. The total net weight of pooled WAPwas 1906 gr. The pooled material was mixed slowly at 25° C. untilcompletely thawed (same stirring condition as in Example 9). Theosmolarity of the pooled WAP was 267 mOs. 209 ml acetate-glycine buffer(to a final concentration of 20 mM sodium acetate, 10 mM glycine; at pH6.8-7.4) and 0.2% v/v (from the final volume solution) Human serumalbumin (HSA, Talecris USA) were added into the pooled WAP. In order tokeep the osmolarity level as constant as possible throughout theprocess, buffer osmolarity was adjusted to that of the WAP startingmaterial using NaCl (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo., USA). S/D treatmentwas carried out as described previously by slowly adding 1% Triton X-100and 0.3% TnBP (v/v) into the pooled sample while mixing at 50 RPM. Inorder to avoid sub-optimal viral inactivation due to the possiblepresence of particulate matter the sample was filtered during the S/Dtreatment. First, the sample was continuously stirred for 30 minutes andthen filtered through 20 and 3 μm Sartopure PP2 filters and 0.45 μmSartopore 2 (Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A., Aubagne, France). Then, thefiltered material was returned to a beaker immersed in a water bathadjusted to 25° C. and mixed at 50 RPM for additional 2 hours forcontinuing the viral inactivation process.

S/D removal was carried out using XK50 liquid chromatography columnpacked with 295 ml SDR HyperD solvent-detergent removal chromatographyresin (Pall Corp) in conjunction with a peristaltic pump and a UA-6UV/VIS detector+Type 11 recorder (ISCO, NE, USA). 1800 ml of S/D-treatedplatelet extract (which contained 1620 ml of platelet material) wereloaded onto the column followed by washing with 600 ml acetate glycinebuffer+0.2% HSA. Heparin is known to bind certain growth factors. Theeffect of heparin in the recovery of growth factors in the elution stepwas explored. Thus, in this experiment elution was carried out with 600ml of acetate glycine buffer containing 12.5% ethanol, 0.5M NaCl, 5IU/ml Heparin (Heparin Sodium-Fresenium 5000 IU/ml, Bodene (PTY) Ltd,South Africa) and 0.2% HSA. This elution step was followed by a secondelution step carried out with 600 ml of acetate glycine buffercontaining 10% ethanol, 1M NaCl and 0.2% HSA. The column was finallywashed with 300 ml of purified water. The unbound and eluted materialwere collected and polled. A total volume of 3700 ml was collected fromthe column. The collected material was filtered using 3 and 1.2 μmSartopure PP2 filters and 0.45 μm Sartopore 2 (Sartorius Stedim BiotechS.A., Aubagne, France). In the next step, the extract was subjected tostabilization and pasteurization as in Example 4. Removal of thestabilizers was carried out by diafiltration against acetate-glycinebuffer (as above). The dialyzed solution was then concentrated to avolume of 450 ml (which is approximately 25% of the starting volume).

For stabilization, Mannitol was added into the solution at a finalconcentration of 2% w/w. In order to remove aggregated material, thesample was filtered through 3 μm Sartopure PP2 filter and 0.45 μmSartopore 2 filter. Sterile filtration was carried out under asepticconditions using a 0.2 μm Sartopore 2 filter. The obtained sample wasthen aliquoted into 4 ml portions under aseptic conditions andlyophilized as elaborated above. The lyophilized material was sealed innitrogen atmosphere in partial vacuum (0.6 Bar). The lyophilizedplatelet extract prepared above is referred herein as “LYO VI”.

The viral purification step of LYO VI included S/D treatment whichincluded a filtration sub step within the SD treatment. Filtration atthis step was carried out through 20, 3, and 0.45 μm filters. The SDRstep included several elution steps using non-isocratic solutions, oneof them comprised 5 IU/ml Heparin. In addition, a pasteurization stepwas carried out, and a final sterile filtration. During the dialysisstep the volume of the dialyzed solution was concentrated 4 times ascompared to the starting volume.

PDGF-AB and bFGF content was measured in the material before loading thesample onto the SDR chromatography resin and after collecting the samplefrom the SDR resin (following solvent and detergent removal) in theproduction process of LYO II-LYO IV and in LYO VI. The percentage ofPDGF-AB and bFGF recovery after the SDR column in the differentprocesses is shown in Table 6. PDGF-AB and bFGF content were measuredusing the specific commercial ELISA kit described above.

TABLE 6 Recovery of PDGF-AB and bFGF from SDR column in LYO II-VI.PDGF-AB PDGF-AB bFGF bFGF content recovery content recovery LYO Step(ng) (%) (ng) (%) II pre-SDR 24941 52 post-SDR 3942 16 18 35 III pre-SDR101313 160 post-SDR 10807 11 40 25 IV pre-SDR 70609 218 post-SDR 9103 1365 30 V pre-SDR 86983 274 post-SDR 38884 45 102 37 VI pre-SDR 103811 196post-SDR 42898 41 110 56

As shown in Table 6, addition of an elution step which comprises heparinsignificantly improved not only the recovery of PDGF-AB, but also therecovery of bFGF. The recovery of bFGF was 56% compared to 37% recoveryin the absence of heparin in the non isocratic solution (LYO V)—about1.5 fold increase in recovery. When comparing the recovery of bFGF inLYO VI to the Recovery in LYO II-IV, an increase of about 2 fold wasobserved.

The concentration of PDGF-AB and bFGF were also measured in the finalLYO VI material following reconstitution with 4 ml double distilledwater (DDW). The concentration of PDGF-AB and bFGF were 4,578 and 127pg/ml, respectively, which corresponds to 7×10⁻⁷ pg PDGF-AB per plateletand 1.95×10⁻⁸ pg bFGF per platelet used as the starting material.

Example 17 The Effect of LYO VI on Cell Proliferation in FibroblastCells

The effect of LYO VI on cell proliferation was carried out as elaboratedin Example 5 using 3T3-Swiss albino cells.

LYO VI, which was lyophilized from a 4 ml solution and that wasconcentrated 4-fold compared to the starting WAP volume, wasreconstituted in 0.5 ml of sterile purified water—8-times concentratedas compared to the platelet extract before lyophilization (in all, itwas 32-fold concentrated compared to starting volume of pooled WAP VI).Following reconstitution, pooled WAP VI or reconstituted LYO VI wereserially diluted 5-fold in the appropriate starvation medium and 10 μlof each dilution was loaded into a well containing 100 μl starvationmedium. The starting concentration of pooled WAP VI was designated as2.5 (as it represents 2.5 μl of the platelet extract beforelyophilization—10 μl of WAP which is 4 times diluted as compared to theplatelet extract before lyophilization were used) and the serialdilutions were calculated accordingly.

The starting concentration of LYO VI tested was designated as 80 (as itrepresents 80 μl of the platelet extract before lyophilization—10 μl ofan 8-times concentrated material following reconstitution of thelyophilized powder) and the serial dilutions were calculatedaccordingly. Concentrations of several growth factors in both WAP VI andLYO VI were measured by ELISA (same kits as above). The actualconcentrations added to the well (in the highest concentration) duringthe proliferation assay are as follows: TGF-β—180 and 2000 ng/ml;bFGF—120 and 1000 pg/ml; VEGF—1.1 and 11.7 ng/ml; PDGF-AB—84.4 and 36.6ng/ml; and EGF—3.6 and 24.4 ng/ml, in wells treated with WAP VI and LYOVI, respectively.

As a positive control, PRP-R was used. PRP-R was prepared from 10 donorpooled PRP. Briefly, 10 bags of whole blood, 400 ml/bag (obtained fromMDA, Blood Bank, Israel) were each centrifuged at 850×g for 10 minutesat room temperature. 80 ml of the supernatant obtained of each bag werethen separately centrifuged at 850×g for an additional 10 minutes atroom temperature. 30 ml (obtained from each bag) of the PRP supernatantwere collected and stored overnight at 2-8° C. The PRP was activated onthe next day with 1.5 ml of 1000 IU/ml Thrombin and 1 ml of 2M CaCl₂ for1 hour at room temperature, and then centrifuged at 3000 g for 10minutes at 4° C. The supernatant of all 10 donors was finally pooled andmixed together for about 10 minutes by rolling movement. This pooledPRP-R stock (total volume of 170 ml) was used as the starting PRP-Rmaterial for this experiment. The concentrations of TGF-β, bFGF, VEGF,PDGF-AB, and EGF in the PRP-R were as follows: —15 ng/ml; —2 pg/ml; —90pg/ml; —9 ng/ml; and—80 pg/ml. The prepared PRP-R was serially diluted 5fold in the appropriate starvation medium, and 10 μl of the startingPRP-R and of each dilution was added into the wells. The startingconcentration of the PRP-R was designated as 10 (as it is equivalent tothe platelet extract before lyophilization).

The proliferation was evaluated 48 hours after treatment initiation byincubation with the WST-1 Cell Proliferation Reagent (cells without anyadditives were used as a background and subtracted from OD values). Atthe end of the incubation period (4 hours), the plates were shaken for 1min and the absorbance of the samples was measured as indicated above.The tests were carried out in triplicates. The OD results obtained bythe WST-1 Cell Proliferation Reagent were plotted against the plateletextract concentration values that were actually added to the cells (asexplained above). The results are shown in FIG. 18. The results showthat increasing concentrations of LYO VI, pooled WAP VI and PRP-Rincreased the proliferation level of 3T3-Swiss albino fibroblast cellswith the effect of LYO VI being less pronounced.

Example 18 Lyophilized Platelet Extract Prepared from Pooled WashedAphaeresis Platelets Leukocyte Reduced (WAP), Treated with S/D,Incubated with Dextran Sulfate, SDR Eluted with Dextran Sulfate,Pasteurized and Concentrated

In this experiment a lyophilized platelet extract was prepared asfollows: Ten WAP bags were individually weighed wiped with 70% ethanol,cut open and the frozen material was placed in a large beaker that wasimmersed in a water bath adjusted to 25° C. The empty bag was weighedand the weight difference between the empty bags and the full bags wasused to calculate the net WAP. Total net weight of pooled WAP was 1916gr. The pooled material was mixed slowly at 25° C. until completelythawed (same stirring condition as in Example 9). The osmolarity of thepooled WAP was 272 mOs. 211 ml acetate-glycine buffer (to a finalconcentration of 20 mM sodium acetate, 10 mM glycine; at pH 6.8-7.4) and0.2% v/v (from the final volume solution) Human serum albumin (HSA,Talecris USA) were added into the pooled WAP. In order to keep theosmolarity level as constant as possible throughout the process, bufferosmolarity was adjusted to that of the WAP starting material using NaCl(Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo., USA).

S/D treatment was carried out as described previously by slowly adding1% Triton X-100 and 0.3% TnBP (v/v) into the pooled sample while mixingat 50 RPM. In order to avoid sub-optimal viral inactivation due to thepossible presence of particulate matter, the S/D treatment was splitinto two parts. First, the sample was continuously stirred for 30minutes and then filtered through 20 and 3 μm Sartopure PP2 filters and0.45 μm Sartopore 2 (Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A., Aubagne, France).Then, the filtered material was returned to a beaker immersed in a waterbath adjusted to 25° C. and mixed at 50 RPM for additional 2 hours forcontinuing the viral inactivation process.

Dextran sulfate is known to bind certain growth factors. Thus, theeffect of Dextran sulfate addition on the recovery of platelet factorswas examined Dextran sulfate (Sigma-Aldrich, Canada; Cat. number D4911)was added to the sample to a final concentration of 1% (w/w) andincubated at 25° C. while stirring at 50 RPM for 20 minutes. The samplewas filtered using 5 μm Sartopore PP2 filter to remove particulatematter.

Next, S/D removal was carried out using XK50 liquid chromatographycolumn packed with 295 ml SDR HyperD solvent-detergent removalchromatography resin (Pall Corp) in conjunction with a peristaltic pumpand a UA-6 UV/VIS detector+Type 11 recorder (ISCO, NE, USA). The columnwas equilibrated with 900 ml of acetate glycine buffer containing 1%dextran sulfate and 0.2% HSA. 1800 ml of S/D- and dextransulfate-treated platelet extract (which contained 1620 ml of plateletmaterial) were loaded onto the column followed by an elution step with600 ml acetate glycine buffer with 12.5% ethanol, 0.5M NaCl, 0.1%dextran sulfate and 0.2% HSA. This was followed by washing with 600 mlof acetate glycine buffer containing 1% dextran sulfate and 0.2% HSA(consider as non isocratic compared to the solution used in the previousstep). Next, the column was washed with 300 ml of purified water. Atotal volume of 3000 ml was collected from the column. The collectedmaterial was filtered using 3 and 1.2 μm Sartopure PP2 filters and 0.45μm Sartopore 2 (Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A., Aubagne, France). In thenext step, the extract was subjected to stabilization and pasteurizationas in Example 4. Removal of the stabilizers was carried out bydiafiltration against acetate-glycine buffer (as above). The dialyzedsolution was then concentrated to a volume of 480 ml (which isapproximately 27% of the starting volume).

For stabilization, Mannitol was added into the solution at a finalconcentration of 2% w/w. In order to remove aggregated material, thesample was filtered through 3 μm Sartopure PP2 filter and 0.45 μmSartopore 2 filter. Sterile filtration was carried out under asepticconditions using a 0.2 μm Sartopore 2 filter. The obtained product wasthen aliquot into 4 ml portions under aseptic conditions and lyophilizedas elaborated above. The lyophilized material was sealed in nitrogenatmosphere in partial vacuum (0.6 Bar).

The lyophilized platelet extract prepared above is referred herein as“LYO VII”. The viral purification step of LYO VII included S/D treatmentwhich included a filtration sub step within the SD treatment. Filtrationat this step was carried out through 20, 3, and 0.45 μm filters. Theplatelet extract was treated with dextran sulfate prior to SDR removal.The SDR step included several elution steps using non-isocraticsolutions in the presence of dextran sulfate. In addition, apasteurization step was carried out, and a final sterile filtration.During the dialysis step the volume of the dialyzed solution wasconcentrated about 4 times as compared to the starting volume.

PDGF-AB and bFGF content was measured in the material before loading thesample onto the SDR chromatography resin and after collecting the samplefrom the SDR resin (following solvent and detergent removal) in theproduction process of LYO II-LYO IV and in LYO VII. The percentage ofrecovery of the PDGF-AB and bFGF in the different production processesis shown in Table 7. PDGF-AB and bFGF content was measured using thecommercial ELISA kit described above.

TABLE 7 Recovery of PDGF-AB and bFGF from SDR column in LYO II-IV and inLYO VII. PDGF-AB % bFGF content PDGF-AB content % bFGF LYO Step (ng)recovery (ng) recovery II pre-SDR 24941 52 post-SDR 3942 16 18 35 IIIpre-SDR 101313 160 post-SDR 10807 11 40 25 IV pre-SDR 70609 218 post-SDR9103 13 65 30 V pre-SDR 86983 274 post-SDR 38884 45 102 37 VI pre-SDR103811 196 post-SDR 42898 41 110 56 VII pre-SDR 176249 130 post-SDR154262 88 110 85

As shown in Table 7, addition of incubation with dextran sulfate andelution in the presence of dextran sulfate significantly improved therecovery of both, PDGF-AB and bFGF. The recovery of bFGF was 85% and therecovery of PDGF-AB was 88%.

Surprisingly, the recovery of PDGF-AB from the starting material in LYOVII was increased from 1.5% in LYO VI to 51% in LYO VII. Moreover, therecovery of VEGF from the starting material in LYO VII increased from37% in LYO VI to 73% in LYO VII.

The concentration of PDGF-AB and bFGF were also measured in the finalLYO VII material following reconstitution with 4 ml double distilledwater (DDW). The concentration of PDGF-AB and bFGF were 194,353 and 64pg/ml, respectively, which corresponds to 3.12×10⁻⁵ pg PDGF-AB perplatelet and 1.03×10⁻⁸ pg bFGF per platelet used as the startingmaterial.

These finding indicate that the addition of dextran sulfate to theprocess steps has a favorable effect on factors recovery also downstreamfrom the SDR column.

Example 19 The Effect of LYO VII on Cell Proliferation in FibroblastCells

The effect of LYO VII on cell proliferation was carried out aselaborated in Example 5 using 3T3-Swiss albino cells.

LYO VII, which was lyophilized from a 4 ml solution and that wasconcentrated about 4-fold compared to the starting WAP volume, wasreconstituted in 0.5 ml of sterile purified water—8-times concentrated(a total concentration of about 32 as compared to the starting volume ofpooled WAP VII). Following reconstitution, pooled WAP VII orreconstituted LYO VII were serially diluted 5-fold in the starvationmedium and 10 μl of each dilution was added into a well containing 100μl starvation medium. As explained above, the starting concentration ofpooled WAP VII was designated as 2.5 and the serial dilutions werecalculated accordingly, and the starting concentration of LYO VII wasdesignated as 80 and the serial dilutions were calculated accordingly.Concentrations of several growth factors in both WAP VII and LYO VIIwere measured by ELISA (same kits as above) and the actualconcentrations added to the well (in the highest concentration) duringthe proliferation assay are as follows: TGF-β—260 and 2800 ng/ml;bFGF—190 and 510 pg/ml; VEGF—1.1 and 21 ng/ml; PDGF-AB—114 and 1550ng/ml; PDGF-BB—21 and 150 ng/ml; and EGF—3.1 and 33.1 ng/ml, in WAP VIIand LYO VII, respectively.

Additionally, WAP VI and LYO VI, prepared as in example 16 were testedin the same assay for activity comparison (10 μl of the serial dilutionsdescribed in Example 16; standardization to platelet extract units werecarried out as described in Example 17).

The proliferation was evaluated 48 hours after treatment initiation byusing the WST-1 Cell Proliferation Reagent (cells without any additiveswere used as a background and subtracted from OD values). At the end ofthe incubation period with the reagent (4 hours), the plates were shakenfor 1 min and the absorbance of the samples was measured as indicatedabove. The tests were carried out in triplicates. The OD resultsobtained by the WST-1 Cell Proliferation Reagent were plotted againstthe platelet extract units before lyophilization that were actuallyadded to the cells (as explained above). The sigmoidal dose responseanalysis was carried out using GraphPad Prism software and the EC50values are shown on the graph. The results are shown in FIG. 19. Theresults clearly show that LYO VII (EC50 1.26) is more potent ininduction of fibroblasts proliferation as compared to LYO VI (EC504.10), whereas their starting materials WAP VII and WAP VI (EC50 0.36and 0.32, respectively), affected the proliferation level of fibroblaststo the same extent. The proliferative effect of LYO VII was morepronounced and closer to the starting WAP than that of LYO VI.

Example 20 Comparison of the Manufacturing Steps Carried Out in LYOII-VII Prepared in the Above Examples

Table 8 summarizes the manufacturing steps carried out in all LYOpreparations.

TABLE 8 Manufacturing steps carried out in all LYO preparations.Manufacture LYO LYO LYO LYO LYO LYO LYO process steps I II III IV V VIVII Solvent- + + + + + + + detergent treatmentPasteurization + + + + + + (heat viral inactivation)Concentration + + + + + Additional + + aggregate removal Additional +incubation with dextran sulfate Elution step  +*  +**   +*** added toSDR column using a non isocratic solution *Elution was carried out inthe presence of ethanol, and NaCl. **Elution was carried out in thepresence of heparin. ***Elution was carried out in the presence ofdextran sulfate.

Example 21 The Ratio Between Several Growth Factors in Platelet ExtractsPrepared According to the Invention

The following Example shows the ratio between several growth factors inthe platelet extract prepared according to the invention; and examineswhether the obtained ratio is close to the physiological ratio. Thephysiological ratio was calculated according to growth factor values inthe serum. The values were obtained from the package inserts of thespecific ELISA kit used for the growth factor measurements above.

Serum is blood plasma without fibrinogen or other clotting factors. Theserum contains factors released by activated platelets.

The levels of TGF-b1, PDGF-AB and VEGF were measured in LYO VII(following its reconstitution in 4 ml DDW) using the specific commercialELISA kit described above, and the ratios between PDGF-AB:TGFb1, andPDGF-AB:VEGF were calculated. The growth factor's level and ratios areshown in Table 9 and 10, respectively, below.

TABLE 9 Levels* of TGF-b1, PDGF-AB and VEGF in LYO VII and in the serum.Growth factor Serum** LYO VII TGF-b1 40 343 PDGF-AB 20 194 VEGF 0.22 2.6*Values are in ng/ml. **Mean of detectable values in the serum obtainedfrom the package inserts of the specific ELISA kit used for themeasurements above.

TABLE 10 Calculated growth factor's ratio in LYO VII and in the serum.PDGF-AB:TGF-b1 PDGF-AB:VEGF Ratio Ratio Serum 0.5 90.9 LYO VII 0.56 74

The results presented in Table 10 show that LYO VII comprises aPDGF-AB:TGF-b1 ratio of 0.56 (similar to the physiological ratio in theserum-0.5); and a PDGF-AB:VEGF ratio of 74. Both ratios were found to bewithin the calculated ratio in the starting materials (WAPs) of theabove Examples.

Example 22 The Coagulation Activity of Platelet Extract PreparedAccording to the Invention

The following experiment was aimed to determine whether LYO VI-VII havea pro-coagulant activity. The presence of activated coagulation factorsin the platelet extracts was assessed by the non-activated partialthromboplastin time measurement test (NAPTT). This test is based on theassay described in the European Pharmacopoeia 7.0; 2.6.22: Activatedcoagulation factors monograph (January 2008:20622); in EuropeanPharmacopoeia Strasburg (France), Council of Europe, 2009.

In general, the test includes addition of phospholipids (Rabbit BrainCephalin, Pel-Freez, Cat. Number 41053-2) and calcium to human plasma toenable the initiation of the coagulation cascade. The non-activecoagulation factors contained in the human standard plasma(Unicalibrator, Diagnostica Stago, cat. 0625 or Coagulation Reference,TC technoclone, ref. 5220120) undergo activation following the additionof a sample containing active coagulation factors leading totransformation of plasma prothrombin to active thrombin. As a result,the plasma fibrinogen immediately transforms to insoluble fibrin (clotformation) and the clotting time can be measured by a coagulometer(STart4 Coagulation Instrument, Diagnostica Stago, Asnieres sur Seine,France). The process of factor activation in the above reference controlsample usually takes 4-7 minutes. In a parallel experiment, a sample ofplatelet extract is added into the human standard plasma and theclotting time is measured as above. The obtained result is divided bythe result of the reference control sample. The calculated ratio servesas a measure of the pro-coagulant activity of the tested plateletextract sample. A ratio of lower than 1 means that the tested samplecontains activated coagulation factors and thus has a pro-coagulantactivity.

The tested platelet extract was reconstituted with 4 ml purified water(PuW) prior to the measurement.

TABLE 11 Pro-coagulant activity of LYO VI-VII. Ratio* sampletime/control time LYO VI 1.2 LYO VII 1.3 *Average of three measurements.

The results presented in Table 11 show that the platelet extractprepared according to the invention does not have a pro-coagulantactivity as assessed by the NAPTT assay.

Example 23 Determination of the Presence of Coagulation Factors in thePlatelet Extract Prepared According to the Invention

The following experiment was aimed to determine whether LYO VI-VIIcomprise coagulation factors. The presence of coagulation factors(activated and non-activated factors) in the platelet extracts wasdetermined by the Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) [alsoknown as Kaolin Cephalin Clotting Time (KCCT); or Partial ThromboplastinTime with Kaolin (PTTK)].

The APTT is a general coagulation screening test of the intrinsiccoagulation pathway that can assess the potential of plasma-derivedsamples to undergo coagulation. The APTT detects the presence of thefollowing coagulation factors: factors XII, XI, IX, VIII, X, V, II(pro-thrombin), and I.

The assay involves the recalcification of plasma in the presence of astandardized amount of cephalin (i.e. phospholipids) and a factor XIIactivator (kaolin). The assay is designed as a limit test, in which thetested sample should show no coagulation after 999 seconds.

The assay was carried out by using KIT reagents C.K. PREST®, DiagnosticaStago, ref. 00597 (containing Reagent 1 and Reagent 2) according to themanufacturer's instructions. The tested LYO was reconstituted with 4 mlpurified water (PuW) prior to carrying out the APTT test.

TABLE 12 Determination of the presence of coagulation factors.Replicates Clotting Average RSD* Sample (name) time (sec) (sec)duplicate (%) Sys Suitability 1 30.0 30.4 1.6 Solution 1 30.7 (Positive2 30.9 30.9 Control) 2 30.8 LYO VI 1 >999 >999 1 >999 2 >999 2 >999 LYOVII 1 >999 >999 1 >999 2 >999 2 >999 *RSD—Relative Standard Deviation.

The results show that according to the APTT test, the platelet extractaccording to the invention is deficient in one or more of thecoagulation factors XII, XI, IX, VIII, X, V, II, and I, rendering theextract non-clottable.

Example 24 The Effect of Platelet Extract Prepared According to theInvention on the Level of Angiogenesis and Overall Healing in an In VivoModel

The effect of platelet extract prepared according to the invention onangiogenesis and overall healing was examined using the SubcutaneousImplantation Model in Rats. This model is commonly used to assess tissueresponse, angiogenesis and overall healing in the implanted tissue[International Organization for Standartization (ISO) 10993-6,Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices—Part 6: Tests for Local EffectsAfter Implantation (2007)].

The two parameters were evaluated 3 and 7 days following theimplantation.

10 female rats were used in this experiment. Each animal had twosubcutaneous pockets surgically created in the subcutaneous tissuesalong both sides of the back (4 pockets in total). Each pocket wasfilled with one of the following tested articles: fibrin sealant+1×platelet extract, fibrin sealant+0.1× platelet extract (10% of theamount of platelet extract used in 1×), fibrin sealant alone, andsaline.

Preparation and Administration of the Tested Articles:

Fibrin sealant+1× platelet extract—1× platelet extract was prepared byreconstituting a lyophilized platelet extract prepared from a 4 mlplatelet extract solution as in Example 16 (similar to the preparationof LYO VI) with 2 ml of fibrinogen solution (a solution as in the BACcomponent of EVICEL™ fibrin sealant, Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.). 100μl from the platelet extract-fibrinogen mixture was mixed with 100 μlthrombin solution (a solution as in the thrombin component of EVICEL™fibrin sealant, Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Ltd., but diluted to aconcentration of 20 IU/ml in 40 mM calcium chloride solution; the finalthrombin concentration was 10 IU/ml). The 200 μl plateletextract-fibrinogen-thrombin mixture was administered into one of theabove created pockets.

Fibrin sealant+0.1× platelet extract—0.1× platelet extract was preparedby lyophilizing 400 μl platelet extract solution prepared as in Example16, and reconstituting the lyophilizate with 2 ml fibrinogen solution.100 μl from the ml platelet extract-fibrinogen mixture was mixed with100 μl diluted thrombin solution (the fibrinogen and diluted thrombinsolutions used are as specified above). The 200 μl plateletextract-fibrinogen-thrombin mixture was administered into a secondpocket.

The amounts of several growth factors actually administered in 0.1× and1×, respectively: TGF-b1: 5.27 and 52.7; PDGF-AB 0.1 and 1.05; bFGF0.0024 and 0.024; and VEGF 0.023 and 0.23 ng (administered with 200 μlfibrin sealant).

Fibrin sealant-100 μl fibrinogen solution was mixed with 100 μl dilutedthrombin solution (as above). The final mixture was administered intothe third pocket.

Saline—200 μl saline was administered into the fourth pocket and wasused as the control group.

Administration of the four tested articles was carried out adjacent to alocation marker [steam sterilized high density polyethylene (HDPE) 1mm×1 mm×5 mm in size] placed within each pocket (in order to mark theexact location of the administration for later evaluations).

Five animals were humanely sacrificed at each time point (day 3 and 7post-implantation) and all four implant sites (from each animal at eachtime point) were collected and immersed in 10% neutral bufferedformalin. Multiple sections were cut from each implant site and thesections were processed for microscopic evaluation. The histologysections were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin.

Angiogenesis and overall healing in the implanted region of thedifferent tested groups were microscopically evaluated by using thebelow specified subjective grading scale:

Angiogenesis Grading Scale:

-   -   0=none; 1=poor: limited, focal or segmental with limited        penetration of article, 1-3 neovascular buds and limited        fibroblastic supporting structures; 2=fair: focal, multifocal,        or diffuse with penetration into article and groups of        capillaries evident with adequate fibroblastic support; 3=good:        article completely penetrated by tissue and capillaries with        fibroblastic supporting structures; and 4=excellent: better than        expected for the study interval evaluated.        Overall Wound Healing Grading Scale:    -   0=none; 1=poor: less than control implant site, less than        expected for surgical procedure and time post-implantation;        2=fair: almost or the same as control implant sites, about what        is expected for the surgical procedure and time        post-implantation; 3=good: slightly better than expected for        surgical procedure and time post-implantation; and 4=excellent:        more than expected for time post-implantation.

The average scoring value for angiogenesis and healing of the differenttested articles are shown in Table 13 below.

TABLE 13 Average scoring of angiogenesis and overall healing followingimplantation of the different tested articles in the different timeintervals. Study Overall Interval Angiogenesis healing (days) TestedArticle score score* 3 Fibrin sealant + 1X 1.0 NA platelet extractFibrin sealant + 0.1X 1.0 NA platelet extract Fibrin Sealant 1.0 NASaline 0.8 NA 7 Fibrin sealant + 1X 2.0 3-4 platelet extract Fibrinsealant + 0.1X 1.4 2-3 platelet extract Fibrin Sealant 1.0 1-2 Saline0.0 2 *Overall healing could not be scored appropriately 3 daysfollowing implantation due to the very short study interval (not enoughtime for “healing” to be microscopically apparent).

No deleterious effect was observed following treatment with the varioustested articles in both intervals (as microscopically determined by thepresence of low numbers of macrophages and lymphocytes in the implantsite).

No significant differences or trends were observed between the differenttested articles in the two tested parameters 3 days post-implantation.Thus, 3 days interval served as a baseline for the remaining studyinterval.

At 7 days post-implantation, the fibrin sealant+1× platelet extract wasassociated with more angiogenesis and better overall healing as comparedto the other tested articles (see Table 13 with the average score). The7 day angiogenesis grade for fibrin sealant+1× platelet extract wasgreater than that observed at 3 days post-implantation.

The fibrin sealant+0.1× platelet extract showed a trend towards moreangiogenesis and better overall healing as compared to fibrin sealantalone and saline tested articles.

Example 25 The Effect of Different Non-Isocratic Conditions During anElution Step in the S/D Removal Step

In the following example the effect of different elution conditionsduring the HIC S/D removal step on recovery of PDGF-AB and bFGF wasexamined.

The experiments were carried out using two different types ofhydrophobic resins: HyperD SDR (PALL), and C-18 (Waters). Both aresilica based. The C-18 has a 18-carbon hydrophobic polymer moiety,whereas the HyperD has a hydrophobic polymer cross-linked to silicabeads and involves a mixed-mode adsorption associated with a molecularexclusion effect [Guerrier L et al. “Specific sorbent to removesolvent-detergent mixtures from virus-inactivated biological fluids”. JChromatogr B Biomed Appl. 1995 Feb. 3; 664(1):119-125].

2 ml of the resin were packed in a 1 cm diameter Bio-Rad column (smallscale experiments). The maximal flow rate used was: 0.3 ml/min.

In all the experiments below S/D treated platelet lysate was prepared asfollows: 10 ml of washed apheresis platelets leukocyte reduced (WAP)containing 20 mM sodium acetate, 10 mM glycine and 1% HSA v/v (from thefinal volume solution) were thawed at 37° C. (the pooled WAP materialwas frozen after addition of acetate-glycine-HSA buffer). In the nextstep, 1% Triton X-100 and 0.3% TnBP were added into the solution, andthe solution was incubated and mixed (on a tube roller) at roomtemperature (22±2° C.) for 2 hours for platelet lysis and antivirustreatment. The lysate was then filtered through 10 μm and 5 μm syringefilters to remove any particulate matter.

Unless indicated otherwise, the packed column with the resins was washedprior to loading the S/D treated lysate with 10 ml Purified Water, andequilibrated with 10 ml acetate-glycine-HSA buffer (same concentrationsas above; at the tested pH level). In the next step, 9 ml of theS/D-treated lysate were loaded onto the column followed by washing with10 ml acetate glycine buffer+HSA (same concentrations as above; at thetested pH level). This washing step was followed by different elutionsteps with 10 ml of a supplemented Acetate-Glycine-HSA buffer (a nonisocratic solution) as elaborated below. The wash and eluted materialwas collected and pooled.

In all the experiments, PDGF-AB and bFGF content was measured in thelysate before loading the sample to the chromatography resin and aftercollecting the sample from the resin (following solvent and detergentremoval), and the percentage of recovery of the factor was calculated inthe different elution steps. The content of both factors was measuredusing the specific commercial ELISA kit described above.

The first set of experiments examined the effect of NaCl content and pHlevel of the Acetate-Glycine-HSA buffer during S/D removal on therecovery of PDGF-AB. Acetate-Glycine-HSA buffer was supplemented withdifferent NaCl concentrations (0.3-1.5 M), and an SDR elution step wascarried out using the supplemented buffer as a non-isocratic solution.

TABLE 14 The effect of NaCl concentration and pH on PDGF-AB recoveryfrom SDR or C-18 resin. NaCl PDGF-AB Resin pH Concentration (M) Recovery(%) 1 C-18 5.5 0.3 19.0 2 C-18 7 0.5 19.8 3 C-18 7 0.7 20.6 4 C-18 7 131.4 5 C-18 5.5 1 30.5 6 C-18 7 1.5 24.4 7 SDR 7 0.7 30.2 8 SDR 7 1.532.4

The results show that when using a C-18 resin, a positive correlationexists between NaCl concentration in the elution buffer and PDGF-ABrecovery following HIC using a concentration ranging from 0.3 M up to 1MNaCl. Optimal results were obtained at a concentration of 1 M (about 30%PDGF-AB recovery). The tested pH did not affect the recovery.

When using SDR resin, similar recoveries were obtained in all NaCltested concentrations (0.7 and 1.5 M). Also, it was observed that ahigher PDGF-AB recovery was obtained when using SDR as a resin ascompared to when using C-18 as the resin (compare PDGF-AB recovery in 3and 7).

Another set of experiments examined the effect of addition of both NaCland ethanol into the Acetate-Glycine-HSA buffer during S/D removal onthe recovery of PDGF-AB from an SDR or C-18 column. For this purpose,Acetate-Glycine-HSA buffer was supplemented with different NaCl andethanol concentrations and an SDR elution step was carried out using thesupplemented buffer as a non-isocratic solution.

TABLE 15 Efficiency of NaCl and ethanol elution on PDGF-AB recovery fromSDR or C-18 column. NaCl EtoH PDGF-AB Resin pH (M) (%) Recovery (%) 1C-18 7 0.5 10 28.2 2 C-18 7 0.5 20 32.1 3 C-18 7 1.0 20 48.8 4 SDR 7 0.520 46.8 5 SDR 7 1.0 10 41.7 6 SDR 7 1.0 20 73.1

The results show that adding ethanol to the solution in addition to NaClresulted in a higher recovery as compared to using NaCl alone (compare 1and 2 from Table 15 with 2 of Table 14; and 3 of Table 15 with 4 ofTable 14). It was also observed that the maximal PDGF-AB recovery wasobtained with 1 M NaCl and 20% ethanol in both resin types with SDRresin having a higher recovery.

In the previous set of experiments it was shown that a maximal PDGF-ABrecovery was obtained with Acetate-Glycine-HSA buffer supplemented with1 M NaCl and 20% ethanol in both resin types. In the following set ofexperiments, the efficacy of S/D material (TritonX-100 and TnBP) removalunder the same conditions (Acetate-Glycine-HSA buffer supplemented with1 M NaCl and 20% ethanol) was evaluated. Of note, the acceptable limitof each one of Triton X-100 and TnBP in blood-derived products is 5μg/ml. The concentration of Triton X-100 and TnBP in the collectedfractions was measured following the S/D removal step. Triton x-100 isdetermined by reversed phase HPLC with a U.V. detector, and TnBP isdetermined by capillary gas chromatography using a Flame IonizationDetector. The level of S/D material was also evaluated in an S/D treatedlysate prepared in a similar manner as LYO IV which was not subjected toelution by non isocratic conditions (large scale preparation, but theprocedure was stopped following the S/D removal step). The results areshown in Table 16 below.

TABLE 16 S/D material concentration in the material collected after SDRor C-18 chromatography. NaCl EtOH TritonX-100 TnBP Resin pH (M) (%)(μg/ml) (μg/ml) 1 C-18 7 0.5 10 0.3 <0.2 2 C-18 7 0.5 20 0.2 <0.2 3 C-187 1.0 20 0.6 <0.2 4 SDR 7 0.5 20 0.3 <0.2 5 SDR 7 1.0 20 5.7 2.5 similarto SDR 7 1.0 10 <0.2 NA* LYO IV *NA—not available.

The results show that carrying out an elution step with 1 M NaCl and 20%ethanol (determined as efficient for PDGF-AB recovery in the previousexperiments) resulted in the presence of relatively high amounts of S/Dmaterial (e.g. a Triton X-100 concentration of 5.7 or 0.6 μg/ml) in theplatelet solution. However, when lower concentrations of NaCl and/orethanol were used, lower concentrations of both TritonX-100 and TnBPwere detected in the platelet solution following the S/D materialremoval step.

Also, the results show that under the same experimental conditions,lower S/D material was detected when using C-18 resin as compared tousing SDR resin (compare 2 with 4; and 3 with 5).

In the next step, the recovery of b-FGF was examined by carrying out anelution step during the SDR step with a combination of NaCl and ethanol.Different ionic strengths and different ethanol concentrations wereexamined. In this experiment SDR resin was used.

TABLE 17 The effect of NaCl and ethanol added to the Acetate-Glycine-HSA buffer on bFGF recovery from SDR column. NaCl EtoH b-FGF pH(M) (%) Recovery (%) 1 8 0 0 9.6 2 7 0.5 20 15.4 3 8 0.5 20 24.3 4 7 110 18.5 5 8 1 10 21.5

The results showed that the tested non-isocratic conditions which wereshown to effectively improve PDGF-AB recovery had a smaller effect onthe recovery of b-FGF (compare 1 with 2-5).

In order to attempt to increase the recovery of b-FGF and furtherincrease the recovery of PDGF-AB during the elution step, the effect ofHeparin addition to the non-isocratic solution was examined Heparin wastested since it is known to bind some growth factors. In this experimentan SDR resin was used. The results of b-FGF recovery under the differentelution conditions are shown in Table 18 below.

TABLE 18 The effect of Heparin combined with NaCl/ethanol during anelution step on b-FGF recovery from SDR column. Heparin NaCl EtoH b-FGFpH (IU/ml) (M) (%) Recovery (%) 1 7 10 0 0 16.4 2 7 100 0 0 17.5 3 7 20.5 12.5 44.3 4 7 5 0.5 12.5 44.8 5 7.5 5 0.5 15 44.2 6 7 30 0.5 15 55 77.3 5 1.0 10 22.1

The results showed that heparin alone at concentrations of 10 and 100IU/ml had a low positive effect (compare 1 and 2 from Table 18 with 1from Table 17). However, combination of heparin at a concentration rangeof 2-30 IU/ml with NaCl at a concentration of 0.5 M and ethanol at aconcentration range of 12.5-15% resulted in a synergistic increasedrecovery of b-FGF as compared to using heparin alone (compare 3-6 with1-2). An increase in the NaCl concentration from 0.5 M to 1 M along withreduction of ethanol concentration to 10% resulted in a recoverydecrease to about 22%.

The results also showed that under the tested conditions, addition ofheparin during the elution step did not affect the recovery of PDGF-AB(data not shown).

In order to try to further increase the recovery of PDGF-AB and b-FGFfrom the SDR column, in the following experiment the lysate wasincubated with dextran sulfate prior to S/D removal step and/or wasadded in the elution steps. Like heparin, dextran sulfate is a sulfatedpolysaccharide capable of binding various growth factors and stabilizingb-FGF, and VEGF [Kajio, Kawahara & Kato (1992) FEBS v306 p 243-6; Huanget al., (2007) Biomacromolecules v8 p 1607-14]. The washings and theelutions were carried out in the order elaborated in Table 19.

Dextran sulfate (0.1% or 1%) was tested alone or in combination withNaCl and EtOH. Incubation of the lysate with dextran sulfate (conditionI-L) was carried out for 15 min at room temperature.

TABLE 19 PDGF-AB and b-FGF recovery at the different conditions.Incubation Elution 1 buffer Elution 2 buffer prior to S/D Eq. NaCl EtOHD.S. NaCl EtOH D.S. PDGF-AB b-FGF Con. removal buffer (M) (%) (%) (M)(%) (%) (%) (%) A* none AGH 0.5 12.5 5 IU/ml 1  10  — 27 49 Heparin B*none AGH 1  10  — 0.5 12.5 5 IU/ml 29 26 Heparin C* none AGH — — 1 1 10  1 38 22 D* none AGH 1  10  1 — — 1 36 28 E* none AGH — — 1 0.5 12.5 0.1 38 32 F* none AGH 0.5 12.5  0.1 — — 1 38 40 G* none AGH 0.5 12.5 0.1 1  10  1 44 33 H* none AGH 1  10  1 0.5 12.5  0.1 47 33 I** 1% D.S.AGH + 0.5 12.5  0.1 — — 1 53 40 D.S. 1% J** 1% D.S. AGH + 1  10  1 0.512.5  0.1 60 46 D.S. 1% K 1% D.S. AGH + 0.5 12.5  0.1 — — 1 62 51 D.S.1% L 1% D.S. AGH + 1  10  1 0.5 12.5  0.1 55 40 D.S. 1% *Conditionsincluded a washing step with Ac-Gly-HSA prior to elution 1. **Conditions included an additional elution step with Acetate-Glycine-HSAbuffer prior to elution 1 and 2. “Conditions”—is abbreviated to Con.;“Equilibration”—is abbreviated to Eq.; “Acetate-Glycine-HSA”—isabbreviated to AGH; “Dextran sulfate”—is abbreviated to D.S.

As seen in Table 19, the sequence of elution solutions plays a role inthe recovery level of PDGF-AB and b-FGF. For example, compare therecovery of condition A with B or E and F, wherein the elution order wasreversed and the recovery of the growth factors was affected.

Also, buffer composition affects the recovery of the tested growthfactors, with condition K being the most favorable for PDGF-AB and b-FGFrecovery (62% and 51%, respectively).

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for preparing a viral-safeplatelet extract comprising trophic factors and/or growth factors, themethod comprising at least two orthogonal viral inactivation treatmentsand comprising the following steps: (a) providing a platelet-enrichedfraction comprising trophic factors and/or growth factors from multipledonors; (b) preparing a platelet lysate from the platelet enrichedfraction in (a); (c) carrying out a solvent-detergent (S/D) viralinactivation treatment of the resultant lysate from step (b); (d)removing the S/D from the resultant viral inactivated platelet lysate ofstep (c) by hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC), wherein theHIC comprises the steps of: loading the resultant lysate from step (c)to HIC resin, and collecting a material eluted under non isocraticconditions from the HIC resin; and conducting a second orthogonal viralinactivation treatment on said eluted material to obtain the viral-safeplatelet extract comprising growth factors and/or trophic factors. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein preparing the platelet lysateis carried out during the S/D viral inactivation treatment.
 3. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein during the S/D viral inactivationtreatment a step of aggregate reduction is carried out.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 3, wherein the aggregate reduction is carried out byfiltration.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the HIC of step(d) comprises the steps of: (d1) loading the platelet lysate on a HICresin; (d2) washing the resultant loaded HIC resin from (d1) with anisocratic solution; (d3) collecting the unbound material; (d4) washingthe HIC resin from step (d3) with a non isocratic solution; and, (d5)collecting the eluted material.
 6. The method according to claim 5,wherein the isocratic solution consists of acetate glycine buffer andhuman serum albumin; and wherein the non isocratic solution comprises anorganic solvent and/or a molecule capable of binding platelet derivedfactors.
 7. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingcontacting the resultant lysate from steps (b) and/or (c) with amolecule capable of binding platelet-derived factors prior to S/Dremoval.
 8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the moleculeis selected from the group consisting of heparin, dextran sulphate andcombination thereof.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein thesecond orthogonal viral inactivation treatment comprises heatinactivation.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein theplatelet-enriched fraction is a washed and/or leukocyte-reduced plateletfraction from aphaeresis pooled from multiple donors prior to step (b).11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising lyophilizing theresultant viral-safe extract from step (d).
 12. A method for removingsolvent-detergent (S/D) from a biological liquid preparation by HIC,comprising the steps of: (a) providing the biological liquidpreparation; (b) loading the biological liquid preparation from (a) ontothe HIC resin; and (c) collecting a material eluted from the resultantloaded HIC resin from (b) under non isocratic conditions, wherein thebiological liquid preparation is a platelet extract derived preparationcomprising trophic factors and/or growth factors.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 12, wherein the method step (b) comprises the stepsof: (b1) washing the loaded HIC resin with an isocratic solution; and(b2) collecting the unbound material.
 14. The method according to claim13, wherein the isocratic solution consists of acetate glycine bufferand human serum albumin; and wherein the non isocratic solutioncomprises an organic solvent and/or a molecule capable of bindingplatelet derived factors.